title: Ertapenem versus piperacillin-tazobactam for treatment of mixed anaerobic complicated intra-abdominal, complicated skin and skin structure, and acute pelvic infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anaerobes are an important component of many serious, deep tissue infections, especially complicated intra-abdominal (IAI), complicated skin and skin structure (SSSI), and acute pelvic (PI) infections. This study compares the efficacy of ertapenem, 1 g once a day, in the treatment of adults with anaerobic IAI, SSSI, and PI to piperacillin-tazobactam, 3.375 g every 6 hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three randomized, double-blind trials comparing ertapenem to piperacillin-tazobactam for treatment of IAI, SSSI, and PI were conducted. This subgroup analysis included 623 patients, whose baseline culture grew one or more anaerobic pathogens, from these three studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anaerobes most commonly isolated were Bacteroides fragilis group (IAI) and peptostreptococci (SSSI and PI). The median duration of ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam therapy, respectively, in these subgroups was 6 and 7 days for IAI, 7 and 8 days for SSSI, and 4 and 5 days for PI. Cure rates for all evaluable patients with anaerobic infection were 89.3% (242/271) for ertapenem and 85.9% (220/256) for piperacillin-tazobactam (95% CI for the difference, adjusting for infection, -2.6% to 9.3%), indicating that the two treatments were equivalent. Cure rates by infection, for ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam, respectively, were as follows: IAI, 86.4% (133/154) and 82.4% (117/142); SSSI, 84.4% (27/32) and 82.4% (28/34); PI, 96.5% (82/85) and 93.8% (75/80). The frequency and severity of drug-related adverse experiences were comparable in both treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this subgroup analysis, ertapenem was as effective as piperacillin-tazobactam for treatment of adults with moderate to severe anaerobic IAI, SSSI, and PI, was generally well tolerated, and had a similar safety profile.
authors.affiliation: CGI, H.G.U. Gregorio Maranon, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tellado
authors.forename: Gail L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gesser
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCarroll
authors.forename: Hedy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teppler
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077727:Ertapenem; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007769:Lactams; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D034161:Pelvic Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007769:Lactams; D047090:beta-Lactams; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D000077727:Ertapenem; D010878:Piperacillin