title: Clinical cure of ventilator-associated pneumonia treated with piperacillin/tazobactam administered by continuous or intermittent infusion.
abstract: The standard mode of administration of piperacillin treatment is by intermittent infusion. However, continuous infusion may be advantageous as beta-lactam antibiotics exhibit time-dependent antibacterial activity. In previous studies, we found a higher rate of clinical cure of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) by continuous infusion rather than intermittent infusion of meropenem and ceftazidime. Therefore, the objective of this historical cohort study was to establish the clinical efficacy of piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ) administered by continuous and intermittent infusion in the treatment of VAP in patients without renal failure. Logistic regression analysis showed a higher probability of clinical cure of VAP by continuous compared with intermittent infusion when the microorganism responsible for VAP had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 microg/mL [8/9 (88.9%) vs. 6/15 (40.0%); odds ratio (OR)=10.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-588.24; P=0.049] or 16 microg/mL [7/8 (87.5%) vs. 1/6 (16.7%); OR=22.89, 95% CI 1.19-1880.78; P=0.03]. Thus, administration of PIP/TAZ by continuous infusion may be considered more effective than intermittent infusion for the treatment of VAP caused by Gram-negative bacteria when the MIC of the microorganism responsible for VAP is 8-16 microg/mL in patients without renal failure.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Ofra s/n, La Cuesta, La Laguna 38320, Tenerife, Spain. lorentemartin@msn.com
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorente
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: María M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Iribarren
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mora
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010878:Piperacillin