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Tazobactam forms a stoichiometric trans-enamine intermediate in the E166A variant of SHV-1 beta-lactamase: 1.63 A crystal structure.

Many pathogenic bacteria develop antibiotic resistance by utilizing beta-lactamases to degrade penicillin-like antibiotics. A commonly prescribed mechanism-based inhibitor of beta-lactamases is tazobactam, which can function either irreversibly or in a transient manner. We have demonstrated previously that the reaction between tazobactam and a deacylation deficient variant of SHV-1 beta-lactamase, E166A, could be followed in single crystals using Raman microscopy [Helfand, M. S., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 13386-13392]. The Raman data show that maximal populations of an enamine-like intermediate occur 20-30 min after "soaking in" has commenced. By flash-freezing crystals in this time frame, we were able to trap the enamine species. The resulting 1.63 A resolution crystal structure revealed tazobactam covalently bound in the trans-enamine intermediate state with close to 100% occupancy in the active site. The Raman data also indicated that tazobactam forms a larger population of enamine than sulbactam or clavulanic acid does and that tazobactam's intermediate is also the most long-lived. The crystal structure provides a rationale for this finding since only tazobactam is able to form favorable intra- and intermolecular interactions in the active site that stabilize this trans-enamine intermediate. These interactions involve both the sulfone and triazolyl groups that distinguish tazobactam from clavulanic acid and sulbactam, respectively. The observed stabilization of the transient intermediate of tazobactam is thought to contribute to tazobactam's superior in vitro and in vivo clinical efficacy. Understanding the structural details of differing inhibitor effectiveness can aid the design of improved mechanism-based beta-lactamase inhibitors.

Acylation↗

Interactions of tazobactam and clavulanate with inducibly- and constitutively-expressed Class I beta-lactamases.

Clavulanate and tazobactam (YTR 830) were tested as inhibitors and inducers of the AmpC-type Class I beta-lactamases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii and the Ic beta-lactamase of Proteus vulgaris. Both clavulanate and tazobactam inhibited the Pr. vulgaris Class Ic beta-lactamase and potentiated ticarcillin and piperacillin against beta-lactamase derepressed variants of this species. Tazobactam, but not clavulanate, also had some ability to inhibit the AmpC Class I enzymes of M. morganii, C. freundii, Ps. aeruginosa, E. cloacae and S. marcescens. The piperacillin + tazobactam combination, unlike ticarcillin + clavulanate, showed some degree of synergy against most derepressed strains of these species. This behaviour partly depended upon the greater inhibitory activity of tazobactam for the enzymes, but also on piperacillin being easier to potentiate than ticarcillin. The synergy between piperacillin and tazobactam was greatest for M. morganii and C. freundii, least for Ps. aeruginosa and E. cloacae. Unfortunately, it is in the last two species that these enzymes pose the greatest resistance threat. Tazobactam caused little or no antagonism of piperacillin against beta-lactamase inducible species, whereas clavulanate antagonized ticarcillin against beta-lactamase inducible strains of E. cloacae and M. morganii (not other species). The antagonism of ticarcillin was attributable to beta-lactamase induction. The lack of antagonism with the tazobactam+piperacillin combination was related to tazobactam being a weaker inducer than clavulanate, not to piperacillin being less susceptible to antagonism than ticarcillin.

Bacteria↗

Cefepime plus amikacin versus piperacillin-tazobactam plus amikacin for initial antibiotic therapy in haematology patients with febrile neutropenia: results of an open, randomized, multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: Standard therapy for suspected infections in patients with profound neutropenia is the combination of a beta-lactam antibiotic plus an aminoglycoside. Cefepime's broad-spectrum activity makes it an option for initial empirical therapy in neutropenic patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefepime plus amikacin compared with piperacillin-tazobactam plus amikacin for initial empirical treatment of fever in adult haematology patients with severe neutropenia. METHODS: In this prospective multicentre trial, 969 patients with 984 febrile neutropenic episodes were randomized to receive iv amikacin (20 mg/kg every 24 h) combined with either cefepime (2 g every 8 h) or piperacillin-tazobactam (4 g/500 mg every 6 h). Clinical response was determined at 72 h and at completion of therapy. RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty-seven episodes were assessable for efficacy (432 cefepime, 435 piperacillin-tazobactam). The frequency of success without modification of the empirical therapy was nearly identical for cefepime plus amikacin (49%) compared with piperacillin-tazobactam plus amikacin (51%). Similar rates of success were found for microbiologically documented infection: 40% versus 39%, respectively. Antibiotic modification was necessary in 49% of cefepime and 44% of piperacillin-tazobactam patients. The overall response rate, with or without modification of the assigned treatment, was 94% in both groups. Drug-related adverse events were reported in 10% of cefepime plus amikacin versus 11% of piperacillin-tazobactam plus amikacin patients. Mortality due to infection occurred in a total of 10 patients (two cefepime, eight piperacillin-tazobactam). CONCLUSION: The empirical regimen of cefepime plus amikacin is equivalent to piperacillin-tazobactam plus amikacin in febrile adult haematology patients with severe neutropenia. KEYWORDS: cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, empirical antibiotic therapy, febrile neutropenia, haematological malignancy

Adult↗

Use of a predictor panel to evaluate susceptibility test methods proposed for piperacillin-tazobactam.

A predictor panel of clinical isolates that produce a variety of types and amounts of beta-lactamases was used to assess the accuracy of dilution and disk diffusion susceptibility tests for piperacillin-tazobactam. Combinations of piperacillin-tazobactam with a fixed ratio of 8:1 and with tazobactam held constant at 4 micrograms/ml were examined in dilution tests performed in agar. In addition, disks containing 100 and 10 micrograms of piperacillin and tazobactam, respectively, were examined in diffusion tests. Three very major discrepancies between MICs determined with an 8:1 ratio and MICs determined with tazobactam held constant at 4 micrograms/ml were noted. These involved strains that appeared to be susceptible in tests with the 8:1 ratio but resistant when tazobactam was held constant at 4 micrograms/ml. However, the differences were only twofold. Error rate-bounded analysis with the disk containing 100 and 10 micrograms of piperacillin and tazobactam, respectively, revealed low error rates, regardless of whether MICs were determined with an 8:1 ratio or tazobactam held constant at 4 micrograms/ml. Thus, a predictor panel was useful in the identification of accurate susceptibility test for piperacillin-tazobactam.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗

Ex vivo pharmacodynamic study of piperacillin alone and in combination with tazobactam, compared with ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid.

Ten volunteers received piperacillin (4 g), piperacillin (4 g) plus tazobactam (0.5 g) (Tazocin), and ticarcillin (3 g) plus clavulanic acid (0.2 g) (Timentin) intravenously over 30 min in a cross-over blinded scheme. Blood samples were obtained 0.5 and 3 h after the end of infusion to measure by (high-pressure liquid chromatography) the concentration and bactericidal titers against 70 gram-negative bacilli. Serum time-kill curves were done against 35 strains to measure killing rates and area under the time-kill curve. Using the measure of serum bactericidal activity, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid and piperacillin-tazobactam were equally effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, and Bacteroides fragilis. Piperacillin-tazobactam was superior to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid against piperacillin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (4 to 16 times) and S. marcescens (2 to 4 times). By using the area under the time-kill curve, piperacillin-tazobactam was equivalent to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid against piperacillin-susceptible strains; piperacillin-tazobactam was significantly more active than piperacillin against piperacillin-resistant strains and was more active than ticarcillin-clavulanic acid when the sample obtained 3 h after the end of infusion to volunteers was considered. Serum piperacillin concentrations (mean +/- standard error of the mean; in mg/liter) were 115 +/- 13 at 0.5 h and 7.4 +/- 1.4 at 3 h after the administration of piperacillin alone and 105.5 +/- 12.6 (0.5 h) and 7.7 +/- 1.6 after the administration of piperacillin-tazobactam. Serum tazobactam concentrations (in milligram per liter) were 13.1 +/- 1.4 at 0.5 h and 1.2 +/- 0.2 at 3 h. The piperacillin-tazobactam ratio was 8 +/- 0.3 at 0.5 h and 6.2 +/- 0.5 at 3 h. Piperacillin-tazobactam appears promising against beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative bacilli.

Adult↗

Pharmacodynamics of piperacillin alone and in combination with tazobactam against piperacillin-resistant and -susceptible organisms in an in vitro model of infection.

The pharmacodynamics of dosage regimens of piperacillin alone or in combination with tazobactam against piperacillin-resistant or -susceptible bacteria were studied in an in vitro model of infection. Experiments were conducted by using a fixed daily exposure of 12 g of piperacillin, given as 3 g alone or in combination with tazobactam at 0.375 g every 6 h, or the same total dose of the combination given as 4 g of piperacillin plus 0.5 g of tazobactam every 8 h. The addition of tazobactam to piperacillin, irrespective of the dosing interval, did not alter the killing of piperacillin-susceptible organisms (Escherichia coli J53 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853). In contrast, experiments with an isogenic TEM-3-containing transconjugant of E. coli J53 (E. coli J53.2-TEM-3) that was resistant to piperacillin (MIC, 128 micrograms/ml) showed that the addition of tazobactam resulted in bacterial killing similar to that observed with the wild-type strain. Although tazobactam concentrations fell to less than 4 mg/liter (the concentration associated with a reduction in the piperacillin MIC from 128 to 2 mg/liter) 2 to 3 h after a dose, a similar degree of bacterial killing was observed when the same total 24-h dose of piperacillin-tazobactam was fractionated into dosing intervals of every 6 or 8 h. Investigations with Staphylococcus aureus 7176 (piperacillin MIC, 128 micrograms/ml) showed that the addition of tazobactam, again irrespective of dosing interval, also resulted in net bacterial killing which was not seen with piperacillin alone. These data support the use of extended dosing intervals (every 8 h) of piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of infections caused by piperacillin-resistant bacteria.

Bacteria↗

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam in patients with renal disease.

Tazobactam is an irreversible inhibitor of many beta-lactamases. In combination with piperacillin, tazobactam exhibits synergy against many beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam were evaluated in eight normal volunteers and in 52 patients with renal dysfunction. Plasma and urine were obtained for up to 30 hours after an infusion of piperacillin and tazobactam (3 and 0.375 gm, respectively). Dialysate samples were collected from patients undergoing dialysis. Piperacillin and tazobactam concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Noncompartmental methods were used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Piperacillin and tazobactam total body clearance, area under the curve, and terminal elimination rate correlated with renal function. Hemodialysis removed 31% and 39% of piperacillin and tazobactam, respectively. During continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, 5.5% of the piperacillin and 10.7% of the tazobactam was recovered in the dialysate over 28 hours. Peak plasma concentrations of both drugs increased minimally with decreasing creatinine clearance. Dosage alterations for creatinine clearance values less than 40 ml/min are recommended.

Adult↗

Inhibition of the renal excretion of tazobactam by piperacillin.

A 1:4 by weight of combination of tazobactam, a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, and piperacillin, is now under development in Japan. After bolus iv administration of the combination to beagle dogs, piperacillin both significantly raised the area under plasma concentration time curve (AUC0 approximately infinity) and significantly decreased the total body clearance (Cltot) of tazobactam. The percentage binding of tazobactam and piperacillin to dog and human serum protein was the same for the combination as for the individual compounds. Piperacillin significantly decreased the renal clearance (Clr) and the clearance ratio (Cr) of tazobactam in dogs. Further, probenecid significantly decreased Clr of both tazobactam and piperacillin, and the Cr of tazobactam and piperacillin approximately reached unity. These results indicate that piperacillin inhibits the renal excretion of tazobactam. Both tazobactam and piperacillin are secreted by a tubular anion transport system which is identical to the probenecid secretion system.

Animals↗

Kinetic interactions of tazobactam with beta-lactamases from all major structural classes.

Tazobactam was shown to be a potent inhibitor of group 1, 2a, 2b, and 2b' beta-lactamases. Extended kinetic studies with class A and C serine beta-lactamases showed that the PC1, TEM-2, and P99 enzymes all were reversibly inhibited prior to inactivation of the enzymes. The CcrA metallo-beta-lactamase was less well inhibited, with a 50% inhibitory concentration at least 3 orders of magnitude less favorable than those for most serine beta-lactamases. The numbers of hydrolytic turnovers of tazobactam before inactivation were 2 for PC1, 125 for TEM-2, 50 for P99, and 4,000 for the CcrA enzyme. In spectral studies, transient intermediates were formed after reaction of tazobactam with the PC1, TEM-2, and CcrA beta-lactamases, corresponding to enzyme-associated intermediates responsible for hydrolysis of tazobactam. Chromophores absorbing at 270 nm (CcrA) and 288 nm (TEM-2 and PC1) were observed for these reaction intermediates. The P99 cephalosporinase formed a stable complex with a UV maximum at 295 nm. Incubation of tazobactam with all of the enzymes resulted in accumulation of a tazobactam reaction product with a short-wavelength absorbance. This product has characteristics similar to those of the major eucaryotic metabolite of tazobactam. Possible reaction mechanisms are presented to explain the findings. In conclusion, both serine-based and metallo-beta-lactamases were irreversibly inactivated by tazobactam following an initial transient inhibition phase.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Penetration of piperacillin-tazobactam into bronchial secretions after multiple doses to intensive care patients.

The penetration of piperacillin-tazobactam in eight mechanically ventilated intensive care patients (age, 56.0 +/- 12.2 years, and weight, 76.5 +/- 15.2 kg [means +/- standard deviations]) with bacterial pneumonia was investigated. They were given intravenous doses of piperacillin (4 g) and tazobactam (0.5 g) as 30-min infusions every 6 h. The kinetic study was performed after the fourth dose on day 2 of treatment. Samples of blood and bronchial secretions (BS) were collected before the fourth dosing and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after the end of infusion. Drug concentrations in both sera and BS were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations (in micrograms per milliliter) in serum were 184.80 +/- 63.03 and 40.03 +/- 30.79 for piperacillin and 23.05 +/- 7.53 and 4.86 +/- 4.54 for tazobactam at 0.5 and 6 h, respectively, after the end of infusion. The corresponding concentrations (in micrograms per milliliter) in BS were 29.33 +/- 25.08 and 20.25 +/- 19.11 for piperacillin and 6.86 +/- 4.25 and 4.25 +/- 2.78 for tazobactam. The percentages for the extent of penetration of piperacillin and tazobactam, as defined by the BS/serum area under the curve ratio, were 35.70 and 78.42%, respectively. These data indicate good penetration of both piperacillin and tazobactam into BS. The concentrations of tazobactam in BS are persistent and high enough to exceed the values found to be effective in vitro against the tazobactam-susceptible beta-lactamases produced by the most important pathogens responsible for nosocomial pneumonia.

Adult↗

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam in infants and children.

The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam were assessed after single-dose administration to 47 infants and children. Study subjects ranging in age from 2 months to 12 years were randomized to receive one of two different doses of a piperacillin-tazobactam combination (8:1): a low dose (n = 23) of 50 and 6.25 mg of piperacillin and tazobactam per kg of body weight, respectively, or a high dose (n = 24) of 100 and 12.5 mg, respectively. The pharmacokinetic behavior of tazobactam was very similar to that observed for piperacillin, supporting the use of these two agents in a fixed-dose combination. No differences in the pharmacokinetics of piperacillin or tazobactam were observed between the two doses administered. The elimination parameters half-life and total body clearance decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing age, whereas volume parameters (volume of distribution and steady-state volume of distribution) remained relatively constant for both compounds. The primary metabolite of tazobactam, metabolite M1, was measurable in the plasma of 18 of the 47 study subjects; 17 of these 18 subjects received the high doses. More than 70% of the administered piperacillin and tazobactam doses were excreted unchanged in the urine over a 6-h collection period. These data combined with the known in vitro susceptibilities of a broad range of pediatric bacterial pathogens indicate that a dose of 100 mg of piperacillin and 12.5 of mg tazobactam per kg of body weight administered as a fixed-dose combination every 6 to 8 h would be appropriate to initiate clinical efficacy studies in infants and children for the treatment of systemic infections arising outside of the central nervous system.

Child↗

Kinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid of hydrocephalic patients.

Its broad antibacterial spectrum qualifies the combination of piperacillin and tazobactam for therapy of nosocomial bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infections. Since these infections sometimes are accompanied by only minor dysfunction of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, patients with noninflammatory occlusive hydrocephalus who had undergone external ventriculostomy were studied (n = 9; age range, 48 to 75 years). After administration of the first dose of piperacillin (6 g)-tazobactam (0.5 g) over 30 min intravenously, serum and CSF were drawn repeatedly and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetics were determined by noncompartmental analysis. Maximum concentrations of piperacillin in CSF ranged from 8.67 to <0.37 mg/liter (median, 3.42 mg/liter), and those of tazobactam ranged from 1.37 to 0.11 mg/liter (median, 0.45 mg/liter). CSF maxima were observed, in median, 1.5 and 2 h after the end of the infusion. Elimination in CSF was considerably slower than in serum (median half-life at beta phase for piperacillin, 5.9 h in CSF versus 1.47 h in serum; for tazobactam, 6.1 h versus 1.34 h). For tazobactam, the ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) in CSF to the AUC in serum was approximately three times as high as that for piperacillin (medians, 0.106 versus 0.034). In view of the tazobactam concentrations in CSF observed in this study, the practice of using a constant concentration of 4 mg of tazobactam per liter for MIC determination is inadequate for intracranial infections. Larger amounts of tazobactam than the standard dose of 0.5 g three times daily may be necessary for CNS infections.

Aged↗

Biliary elimination and hepatic disposition of an association of piperacillin and tazobactam: experimental evaluation.

Biliary elimination and hepatic disposition of tazocillin, an association of a highly bile-excreted ureido-penicillin, piperacillin, with a beta-lactamase inhibitor, tazobactam, have been assessed applying an isolated perfused rabbit liver experimental model. Six investigations were performed, each during a 3 h period, using reconstituted blood circulating in a closed circuit. Piperacillin and tazobactam concentration in all specimens were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Blood samples and cumulative bile secretion were collected every 30 min, and liver fragments were isolated at the end of each experiment for dosage purposes. Following the simultaneous administration of piperacillin 80 mg and tazobactam 10 mg (dose ratio 8/1) in the perfusion device, theoretical initial serum concentrations were respectively 414 micrograms/ml and 32.1 micrograms/ml. Maximal biliary concentrations of 4431 +/- 1541 (s.d.) of piperacillin and 21.3 +/- 7.8 micrograms/ml of tazobactam were reached between 0.5-1 h and 2.5-3 h, respectively. Cumulative biliary excretion (0-3 h) amounted to 37.6 +/- 17.7% of the administered dose for piperacillin and 1.5% for tazobactam. At the end of the perfusion, respectively 22.1% and 50.7% of piperacillin and tazobactam doses remained in the circulating blood, while 1.1% and 5.6% were found in the liver. On the basis of these data, the calculated percentages of piperacillin and tazobactam doses having undergone hepatic biotransformation, were 6.5% and 1.2%, respectively. Under such experimental conditions, concentrations and excretion of piperacillin in bile prove to be substantial. Of note, tazobactam concentrations turn out to be stable both in serum and in bile whereas they stay at a relatively constant level of 20 micrograms/ml during nearly all the perfusion time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Inactivation of CMY-2 beta-lactamase by tazobactam: initial mass spectroscopic characterization.

The CMY-2 beta-lactamase, a plasmid determined class C cephalosporinase, was shown to be susceptible to inhibition by tazobactam (K(i)=40 microM). The reaction product(s) of CMY-2 beta-lactamase with the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam were analyzed by electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) to characterize the prominent intermediates of the inactivation pathway. The ESI/MS determined mass of CMY-2 beta-lactamase was 39851+/-3 Da. After inactivating CMY-2 beta-lactamase with excess tazobactam, a single species, M(r)=39931+/-3.0, was detected. Comparison of the peptide maps from tryptic digestion of the native enzyme and the inactivated beta-lactamase followed by LC/MS identified two 22 amino acid peptides containing the active site Ser64 modified by a fragment of tazobactam. These two peptides were increased in mass by 70 and 88 Da, respectively. UV difference spectra following inactivation revealed the presence of a new species with a 302 nm lambda(max). Based upon the increase in molecular mass of the tazobactam inactivated CMY-2 beta-lactamase, we propose that during the inactivation of this beta-lactamase by tazobactam an imine is formed. Tautomerization forms the spectrally observed enamine. Hydrolysis generates the covalently attached malonyl semialdehyde, its hydrate, or an enol. This work provides information on the mass of a stable enzyme intermediate of a class C beta-lactamase inactivated by tazobactam and, for the first time, unequivocal evidence that a cross-linked species is not required for apparent inactivation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Conjugative resistance to tazobactam plus piperacillin among extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae.

We studied the genetic origins of piperacillin-tazobactam resistance among nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. A total of 30 nosocomial isolates resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam were obtained from various regions of Turkey. Isoelectric focusing demonstrated at least 2 enzymes common to all strains: I at a pI of 8.0 and the other at 5.4. Piperacillin-tazobactam resistance was successfully transferred from all of the strains to Escherichia coli. Of the piperacillin-tazobactam-resistant transconjugates, 23 were also resistant to ceftazidime. However, 7 transconjugates were susceptible to ceftazidime but resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam, producing a single enzyme focusing at pI 5.4. Piperacillin resistance caused by this enzyme was reversed by clavulanate and by increased amounts of tazobactam, which indicates that this enzyme confers resistance due to its high amount. Sequence analysis revealed this enzyme to be TEM-1. This study demonstrates that transferable hyper-produced TEM-1 causes piperacillin-tazobactam resistance in Klebsiella strains in Turkish hospitals.

Base Sequence↗

Influence of piperacillin-tazobactam on pharmacokinetics of gentamicin given once daily.

The effect of piperacillin-tazobactam on the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin given once daily was studied. Healthy adult volunteers each received four drug regimens in randomized order: gentamicin 7 mg/kg i.v. once daily (1) by itself, (2) with piperacillin 4 g and tazobactam 0.5 g (both as the sodium salt) every six hours i.v., (3) with piperacillin 4 g and tazobactam 0.5 g i.v. every eight hours, and (4) with piperacillin 8 g and tazobactam 1 g by continuous i.v. infusion over 24 hours. All the gentamicin doses were infused over 30 minutes two hours after piperacillin-tazobactam. Blood samples were drawn before and at the end of each gentamicin infusion and at intervals up to 12 hours after the start of each gentamicin infusion. Samples were assayed for gentamicin concentration by an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique and for piperacillin and tazobactam concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. Six women and four men completed all four drug regimens. For the gentamicin-alone regimen, the mean +/- S.D. area under the concentration-versus-time curve was 78.06 +/- 10.28 micrograms/mL.hr, the mean +/- S.D. peak concentration (30 minutes after the end of an infusion) was 20.28 +/- 2.54 micrograms/mL, and the mean +/- S.D. half-life was 2.41 +/- 0.24 hours. The values for gentamicin alone did not differ significantly from those for gentamicin in any of the combination regimens. Coadministration of once-daily gentamicin and piperacillin-tazobactam in various i.v. infusion regimens did not affect the pharmacokinetics of once-daily gentamicin.

Adolescent↗

Piperacillin-tazobactam versus imipenem-cilastatin for treatment of intra-abdominal infections.

In order to compare the clinical and microbiological efficacies and safety of piperacillin plus tazobactam with those of imipenem plus cilastatin, 134 patients with intra-abdominal infections (73 patients with appendicitis) participated in an open randomized comparative multicenter trial. A total of 40 men and 29 women (mean age, 53 years; age range, 18 to 92 years) were enrolled in the piperacillin-tazobactam group and 40 men and 25 women (mean age, 54 years; age range, 16 to 91 years) were enrolled in the imipenem-cilastatin group. The patients received either piperacillin (4 g) and tazobactam (500 mg) every 8 h or imipenem and cilastatin (500 mg each) every 8 h. Both regimens were given by intravenous infusion. A total of 113 patients were clinically evaluable. Of 55 patients who received piperacillin-tazobactam, 50 were clinically cured, while 40 of 58 patients in the imipenem-cilastatin group were clinically cured. The differences were significant (Wilcoxon test; P = 0.005). There were 4 failures or relapses in the piperacillin-tazobactam group and 18 failures or relapses in the imipenem-cilastatin group. The microorganisms isolated were eradicated in similar proportions in the two patient groups. Adverse reactions, mainly gastrointestinal disturbances and nausea, were noted in 13 patients who received piperacillin-tazobactam and in 14 patients who received imipenem-cilastatin. Results of the present study show that piperacillin-tazobactam is effective and safe for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.

Abdomen↗

Piperacillin, tazobactam, and gentamicin alone or combined in an endocarditis model of infection by a TEM-3-producing strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae or its susceptible variant.

The efficacy of tazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, in combination with piperacillin, was studied in vitro and in rabbit experimental endocarditis due to a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain (KpR) producing an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, TEM-3, or its nonproducing variant (KpS). In vitro, piperacillin was active against KpS (MIC = 4 micrograms/ml, MBC = 8 micrograms/ml with 10(7)-CFU/ml inoculum) but not against KpR (MIC = MBC = 256 micrograms/ml). Tazobactam (1 microgram/ml) restored the activity of piperacillin against KpR (MIC = 2 micrograms/ml, MBC = 4 micrograms/ml). Gentamicin was active against both strains (MIC = 0.25 and 0.5 micrograms/ml for KpS and KpR, respectively). The piperacillin-tazobactam-gentamicin combination was synergistic in vitro. The piperacillin/tazobactam ratio in plasma and in vegetations was always lower than the 4/1 injected dose ratio. In vivo, piperacillin (300 mg/kg of body weight four times a day [QID]) was active against KpS but not against KpR. Tazobactam (75 mg/kg QID) was able to restore the in vivo effect of piperacillin (300 mg/kg QID) against KpR (-3.0 log10 CFU/g of vegetation versus that of controls). Gentamicin (4 mg/kg twice a day [BID]) was active against both strains. Compared with controls, the combination of gentamicin plus piperacillin against KpS (-5.6 log10 CFU/g of vegetation), and the gentamicin-piperacillin-tazobactam combination against KpR (-4.4 log10 CFU/g of vegetation) achieved the greatest decrease in bacterial counts in vegetations and were the only regimens that significantly increased the proportion of sterile vegetations. It is concluded that (i) tazobactam was able to restore the effect of piperacillin against a TEM-3 extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing strain of K. pneumoniae, both in vitro and in a severe experimental infection with high inoculum, when used in a 4/1 piperacillin/tazobactam dose ratio; (ii) gentamicin alone was effective because of the high peak/MBC ratio in plasma; (iii) piperacillin-tazobactam-gentamicin, probably because of the effect of gentamicin in reducing bacterial inoculum in vivo, as stressed by the results obtained by piperacillin-gentamicin against KpS, may be the most effective regimen against KpR.

Animals↗