Review of piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of bacteremic infections and summary of clinical efficacy.
One method of resistance to beta-lactam antimicrobials involves production of beta-lactamases, enzymes that render the beta-lactam ineffective. Beta-lactamase inhibitors have been combined with beta-lactam antibiotics to combat beta-lactamase producing organisms. One such agent, piperacillin/tazobactam, has been shown to be safe and effective therapy for infections usually treated with a combination of antibiotics such as polymicrobial and nosocomial infection, and has been used for empiric therapy in cases of serious infection. A survey of the literature shows that piperacillin/tazobactam is a safe and efficacious therapy for bacteremia as well as soft tissue, intra-abdominal, and lower respiratory tract infections. When combined with an aminoglycoside, it is also useful in the treatment of severe nosocomial respiratory infections.
Service de Réanimation Médicale et de Maladies Infectieuses, Caen, France.
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Charbonneau
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078142:Tazobactam; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
D004338:Drug Combinations; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D000078142:Tazobactam; D010878:Piperacillin