Piperacillin/tazobactam
Bottle of piperacillin/tazobactam
Combination of
PiperacillinUreidopenicillin antibiotic
TazobactamBeta-lactamase inhibitor
Clinical data
Trade namesTazocin, Zosyn, others[1]
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa694003
Routes of
administration		Intravenous infusion
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Piperacillin/tazobactam, sold under the brand name Tazocin among others, is a combination medication containing the antibiotic piperacillin and the β-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam.[3] The combination has activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.[3] It is used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, intra-abdominal infection, pneumonia, cellulitis, and sepsis.[3] It is given by injection into a vein.[4]

Common adverse effects include headache, trouble sleeping, rash, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.[3] Serious adverse effects include Clostridium difficile infection and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.[3] Those who are allergic to other β-lactam are more likely to be allergic to piperacillin/tazobactam.[3] Use in pregnancy or breastfeeding appears to generally be safe.[5] It usually results in bacterial death through blocking their ability to make a cell wall.[3]

Piperacillin/tazobactam was approved for medical use in the United States in 1993.[3] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[6] It is available as a generic medication.[4]

Medical uses

Its main uses are in intensive care medicine (pneumonia, peritonitis), some diabetes-related foot infections, and empirical therapy in febrile neutropenia (e.g., after chemotherapy). The drug is administered intravenously every 6 or 8 hr, typically over 3–30 min. It may also be administered by continuous infusion over four hours. Prolonged infusions are thought to maximize the time that serum concentrations are above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the bacteria implicated in infection.[citation needed]

Piperacillin-tazobactam is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence as first-line therapy for the treatment of bloodstream infections in neutropenic cancer patients.[7]

For β-lactam antipseudomonal antibiotics, including piperacillin/tazobactam, prolonged intravenous infusion is associated with lower mortality than bolus intravenous infusion in persons with sepsis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.[8]

Adverse effects

The most common adverse effect is diarrhea (7–11%).[9] Another adverse effect is inhibition of platelets which is also known as thrombocytopenia.[10]

Contraindications

Zosyn is contraindicated when a patient has hypersensitivity to penicillins, cephalosporins, beta-lactamase inhibitors or any component of the formulation.[11]

Society and culture

Brand names

The combination is marketed in various countries under brand names including Tazocin, Zosyn, Tazovex, Tazact, Biopiper TZ, Brodactam, Piptaz, Maxitaz, Kilbac, Trezora, Du-Tazop, Tazopen, Sytaz, Tazin, and Inzalin TZ.[citation needed]

2017 shortage

Various sources have referred to a shortage of the drug since May 2017, citing various reasons, including an earthquake in China and other issues at the major production facility in 海正 (Hisun); increased demand; withdrawal of funding by a major pharmaceutical company.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Tazocin". Drugs.com. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Prescription medicines: registration of new generic medicines and biosimilar medicines, 2017". Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 21 June 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Piperacillin Sodium and Tazobactam Sodium". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 373. ISBN 9780857111562.
  5. ^ "Piperacillin / tazobactam (Zosyn) Use During Pregnancy". Drugs.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  6. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  7. ^ National Collaborating Centre for Cancer (UK) (2012). Neutropenic Sepsis: Prevention and Management of Neutropenic Sepsis in Cancer Patients - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Guidance. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (UK). PMID 26065059.
  8. ^ Vardakas KZ, Voulgaris GL, Maliaros A, Samonis G, Falagas ME (January 2018). "Prolonged versus short-term intravenous infusion of antipseudomonal β-lactams for patients with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials". Lancet Infect Dis. 18 (1): 108–120. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30615-1. PMID 29102324.
  9. ^ "Piperacillin and Tazobactam Sodium". Merck Manual Professional. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010.
  10. ^ Rousan TA, Aldoss IT, Cowley BD Jr, Curtis BR, Bougie DW, Aster RH, George JN (January 2010). "Recurrent acute thrombocytopenia in the hospitalized patient: Sepsis, DIC, HIT, or antibiotic-induced thrombocytopenia". American Journal of Hematology. 85 (1): 71–74. doi:10.1002/ajh.21536. PMC 4410979. PMID 19802882.
  11. ^ "Piperacillin and Tazobactam Injection". MedlinePlus.gov. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Drug Shortages › Piperacillin Tazobactam Injection". Drugs.com. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
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