title: Piperacillin 2 g/tazobactam 0.5 g is as effective as imipenem 0.5 g/cilastatin 0.5 g for the treatment of acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis and complicated urinary tract infections.
abstract: This randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial compared piperacillin/tazobactam (2 g/0.5 g/q8h) and imipenem/cilastatin (0.5 g/0.5 g/q8h) as monotherapy in patients with acute pyelonephritis or complicated urinary tract infections. In total, 237 patients were randomised to receive either piperacillin/tazobactam (n=161) or imipenem/cilastatin (n=166). At the early follow-up (=test-of-cure-visit) 5-9 days after antibiotic therapy, clinical success was noted in 122/147 (83.0%) piperacillin/tazobactam recipients compared with 123/154 (79.9%) imipenem/cilastatin recipients, thus proving that both treatments were equally effective. On a descriptive level, an advantage of piperacillin/tazobactam was demonstrated. Microbiological success at the early follow-up was 78/135 (57.8%) for piperacillin/tazobactam and 70/144 (48.6%) for imipenem/cilastatin. These results were confirmed by equivalent success rates on the last therapy day. Both drugs were generally well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Urology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, St. Elisabeth Strasse 23, D-94315, Straubing, Germany. naberk@klinikum-straubing.de
authors.forename: Kurt G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Naber
authors.forename: Orlin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Savov
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Salmen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018401:Sample Size; D000078142:Tazobactam; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D000078142:Tazobactam; D010878:Piperacillin