PIPERACILLIN 2g / TAZOBACTAM 250mg, powder, vial

• In the WHO list of Essential Medicines 2025

Combination of two penicillins, including beta-lactamase inhibitor:

• Piperacillin: a broad-spectrum, penicillin-class beta-lactam antibiotic exerts bactericidal activity by inhibiting both septum and cell wall synthesis.
• Tazobactam: a beta-lactamase inhibitor structurally related to penicillins, extends the antibacterial spectrum of piperacillin to include many beta-lactamase-producing bacteria that are resistant to piperacillin alone.

This combination is effective against gram-positive, gram-negative (including Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and anaerobic bacteria.

Severe bacterial infections in adults and children over 2 years of age

First-line treatment of community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacterial sepsis, especially in settings with high antimicrobial resistance or suspected health-care associated infections, including:

• severe intra-abdominal infections
• high-risk febrile neutropenia
• hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)
• suspected necrotising fasciitis
• severe acute cholecystitis and severe cholangitis
• severe pyogenic liver abscess
• severe acute appendicitis
• severe acute diverticulitis.

For sepsis, piperacillin/tazobactam should be combined with amikacin to cover resistant gram-negative bacteria.

For delayed presentations of infected polymicrobial traumatic injuries, piperacillin/tazobactam ± amikacin is suitable after debridement and wound closure.

Piperacillin/tazobactam is an alternative to carbapenems, particularly for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria..

Remark:

For hospital-acquired pneumonia or mild acute infections with a low risk of multidrug-resistant pathogens (e.g., short hospitalisation before symptom onset and no prior antibiotic exposure), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid may be considered as a first-line alternative.

Reconstitute the 500 mg powder vial with 20 ml of water for injection or 0.9% NaCl. Check the vial until complete dissolution.

The reconstituted solution must be given as slow IV infusion (30 minutes) in 50 ml to 150 ml of 0.9% NaCl or 5% dextrose.

The solution must be clear and free of visible particles.

Do not mix with other medicinal products.