Piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of community-acquired and nosocomial respiratory tract infections: a review.

Investigators assessed the efficacy and safety of piperacillin/tazobactam therapy in a study of patients with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections and a study of patients with nosocomial, severe lower respiratory tract infections. Piperacillin 4 g/tazobactam 500 mg was given intravenously every 8 h to 193 hospitalized lower respiratory tract infection patients for a minimum of 5 days. There was a favorable response rate of 97% and eradication of the causative pathogen was documented or presumed in 93% of patients. There was a low incidence of adverse experiences and the combination was well tolerated. Seventy-one intensive care patients with severe lung disease received 4 g piperacillin/500 mg tazobactam intravenously every 6 h; afterward they were given amikacin 7.5 mg/kg every 12 h. Minimum duration of treatment was 5 days. Therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam plus amikacin was well-tolerated, produced a 74% favorable clinical response rate, and eradicated the responsible pathogen in 70% of patients.