Piperacillin + Tazobactam

Generic Details

Generic Name

Piperacillin-Tazobactam

Other Names

  • Zosyn
  • Tazocin

Drug Class

  • Antibiotic

Chemical Formula

C23H27N5O7S • C10H12N4O5S

Molecular Weight

539.57 g/mol

Mechanism of Action

  • Piperacillin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins.
  • Tazobactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that prevents the destruction of piperacillin by beta-lactamases.

Indications

  • Treatment of intra-abdominal infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Skin and soft tissue infections
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Nosocomial infections
  • Empirical therapy in febrile neutropenic patients

Common Dosage Forms

  • Powder for injection
  • Infusion solution

Typical Dosage

  • Piperacillin-Tazobactam 3.375 grams every 6 hours for moderate to severe infections

Pediatric Dosage

  • Dosing based on weight and severity of infection. Consult pediatric infectious disease specialist.

Geriatric Dosage

  • Dosage adjustment may be necessary in elderly patients with renal impairment.

Side Effects

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Skin rash
  • Hypersensitivity reactions
  • Pseudomembranous colitis

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity to penicillins or beta-lactamase inhibitors

Pregnancy Category

  • Category B: Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus, but there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Lactation Safety

  • Limited data available. Use only if benefits outweigh risks.

Drug Interactions

  • Probenecid may increase piperacillin levels by decreasing renal excretion.
  • Concurrent use with nephrotoxic drugs may increase the risk of kidney damage.

Overdose Symptoms

  • Neurotoxicity
  • Seizures
  • Encephalopathy

Antidote for Overdose

  • Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Consider hemodialysis in severe cases.

Storage Conditions

  • Store powder for injection at controlled room temperature (20-25°C). Reconstituted solution may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Pharmacokinetics

  • Absorption: Piperacillin-Tazobactam is administered intravenously and reaches therapeutic concentrations rapidly.
  • Distribution: Both piperacillin and tazobactam have good tissue penetration.
  • Metabolism: Piperacillin is not metabolized significantly. Tazobactam is metabolized to inactive metabolites.
  • Excretion: Primarily eliminated unchanged in the urine.

Precautions

  • Monitor renal function regularly during therapy due to the risk of nephrotoxicity.

Warnings

  • Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported.
  • Prolonged use may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms.