INTRODUCTION Altered pharmacokinetics (PK) in critically ill patients can result in insufficient serum β-lactam concentrations when standard dosages are administered. Previous studies on β-lactam PK have generally excluded the most severely ill patients, or were conducted during the steady-state period of treatment. The aim of our study was to determine whether the first dose of piperacillin-ta...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of piperacillin/tazobactam (Tazocin(®); Pfizer, New York, NY) usage in our hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This retrospective study was designed to involve all patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital and prescribed piperacillin/tazobactam as an empiric therapy from January 1 to March 31, 2008. The medical records of such ...

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of routine systems (Vitek2 cards AST-N022 and AST-N026; Kirby Bauer; Etest) for susceptibility testing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to piperacillin and piperacillin-tazobactam. Vitek2 (card AST-N022) showed the worst performance; the other three methods (Vitek2 card AST-N026, Kirby-Bauer and E-test) performed comparably but never fulfilled the minimal stan...

This comparison of intermittent versus extended-infusion piperacillin-tazobactam among patients with Gram-negative infections revealed similar mortality and length of stay. Outcomes remained similar when stratified by MIC value.

Wright C et al. Tricuspid valve infective endocarditis and pulmonary sepsis due to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae successfully treated with high doses of ciprofloxacin but complicated by gynaecomastia. Piperacillin/tazobactam-induced acute delirium in a peritoneal dialysis patient Sir, Penicillins are b-lactam antimicrobial agents. They act by binding to penicillin-binding proteins on the bacteri...

A 61-year-old female with past medical history of maculopapular rash reaction to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin being treated for diverticulitis develops the same rash with administration of piperacillin/tazobactam and aztreonam. A diffuse maculopapular rash developed after the administration of piperacillin. It resolved with discontinuation of the drug and the patient was switched to aztreonam ...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC beta-lactamases are the most common mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Gram negative bacilli. A prospective study was undertaken to know the occurrence of ESBL and AmpC producing strains and their antibiotic susceptibilities to newer agents to guide empirical therapy for complicated urinary tract infe...

Although excessive dose of piperacillin predominantly eliminated by the kidneys can cause encephalopathy in patients with impaired renal function, its standard dose causing acute neurotoxicity is rarely reported in advanced renal failure. We described a 63-year-old diabetes woman with advanced renal failure (estimated creatinine clearance of 8 mL/min) not yet dialysis received the standard dose...

The microdilution checkerboard technique was utilized to distinguish synergistic activity between tobramycin and four beta-lactams: piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone. Beta-lactam-aminoglycoside combinations were tested against 75 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanii, Citrobacterfreundii, Serratia marcescens, and Enterob...

We describe a patient who developed a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to piperacillin/tazobactam in the cement beads and a spacer inserted at revision of total replacement of the left knee. We believe that this is the first report of such a problem. Our experience suggests that a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction should be considered when a mixture of antibiotics such as piperacilli...