title: Comparative in vitro activity of piperacillin, piperacillin-sulbactam and piperacillin-tazobactam against nosocomial pathogens isolated from intensive care patients.
abstract: We investigated the antimicrobial activity of piperacillin-tazobactam versus piperacillin-sulbactam against common nosocomial pathogens (n = 565) isolated from intensive care patients. For Gram-positive bacteria, antimicrobial susceptibilities to the two piperacillin-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations were almost identical. For Gram-negative bacteria, piperacillin-tazobactam exhibited greater activity against Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris than piperacillin-sulbactam. Both combinations, however, were equally effective against the other Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Piperacillin-sulbactam exhibited better antimicrobial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii. Our findings might prove important for the appropriate choice of antibiotic therapy with beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations.
authors: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Freiburg University Hospital, Hugstetter Strasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg I.Br., Germany. ufrank@iuk3.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Frank
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mutter
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Schmidt-Eisenlohr
authors: F D
authors: FD
authors: Daschner
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D013407:Sulbactam / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D013407:Sulbactam; D010878:Piperacillin