title: Treatment of hospitalized patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections: double-blind, randomized, multicenter study of piperacillin-tazobactam versus ticarcillin-clavulanate. The Piperacillin/Tazobactam Skin and Skin Structure Study Group.
abstract: We compared the efficacy and safety of two beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, namely, piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate, in the treatment of complicated bacterial infections of skin that required hospitalization. The study was a randomized, double-blind, comparative trial involving 20 centers. The infections were classified as (i) cellulitis with drainage, (ii) cutaneous abscess, (iii) diabetic or ischemic foot infection, and (iv) infected wounds and ulcers with drainage. The clinical response rates were comparable for the two treatment regimens (61% of the patients were cured with piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate and improvement was seen in 15 and 16% of patients treated with piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate, respectively). Both regimens were found to be safe and well tolerated. These data support the use of piperacillin-tazobactam for initial empiric therapy of hospitalized patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections.
authors.affiliation: Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine, Akron 44304.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wishnow
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Talan
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Duncanson
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Norden
mesh_terms: D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D000078142:Tazobactam; D013982:Ticarcillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002969:Clavulanic Acids; C043215:ticarcillin-clavulanic acid; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D013982:Ticarcillin; D000078142:Tazobactam; D010878:Piperacillin