- Uses
- What is piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?
- What are the uses for piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
- Side Effects
- What are the side effects of piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
- Dosage
- What is the dosage for piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
- Drug Interaction
- Which drugs or supplements interact with piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
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- Is piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Things to Know
- What else should I know about piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
- Comments
- **COMMENTSTAGLIST**
- More
- **OTHERTAGLIST**
Brand Name: Zosyn
Generic Name: piperacillin and tazobactam
Drug Class: Penicillins, Extended-Spectrum
What is piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?
Zosyn is an injectable combination of two antibiotics, piperacillin, and tazobactam, with broad-spectrum activity against an extended range of bacterial species. Piperacillin is an extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic, but it can be destroyed by an enzyme produced by bacteria called beta-lactamase. Tazobactam inhibits beta-lactamase and prevents the destruction of piperacillin. Therefore, tazobactam is given with piperacillin to enhance the activity of piperacillin in eradicating bacterial infections.
Piperacillin kills bacteria by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. It binds preferentially to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) located inside bacterial cell walls. PBPs vary among bacterial species, and thus susceptibility to piperacillin depends on the ability of piperacillin to bind to each species' specific PBPs.
In-vitro studies of piperacillin and tazobactam have shown that the combination has activity against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
Susceptible bacteria include:
- Aerobic and facultative gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus
- Aerobic and facultative gram-negative microorganisms: Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Gram-negative anaerobes: Bacteroides fragilis group (B.fragilis, B. ovatus, B. thetaiotaomicron, and B. vulgatus)
- Piperacillin and tazobactam were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 1993.
What brand names are available for piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
Zosyn
Is piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection available as a generic drug?
Yes
Do I need a prescription for a piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
Yes
What are the uses for piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
The combination of piperacillin and tazobactam (Zosyn) is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including:
- Pneumonia
- Appendicitis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- E. coli infection
- Cellulitis
- Postpartum endometriosis
What are the side effects of piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
Common side effects associated with piperacillin/tazobactam include:
- diarrhea,
- headache,
- constipation,
- nausea,
- difficulty sleeping,
- rash,
- vomiting,
- upset stomach,
- itching,
- stool changes,
- fever,
- agitation,
- Candida (oral [thrush] or genital yeast infection),
- high blood pressure,
- dizziness,
- stomach pain,
- chest pain,
- edema,
- anxiety,
- rhinitis, and
- shortness of breath.
Rare side effects occurring with a frequency of less than 1% are:
- agranulocytosis,
- hypersensitivity-type reactions,
- anemia,
- canker sores,
- atrial fibrillation,
- bradycardia,
- cardiac arrest,
- cardiac arrhythmia,
- heart failure, and
- Clostridium difficile-associateddiarrhea.
What is the dosage for piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
Zosyn should be administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes.
The usual daily dose of Zosyn for adults is 3.375 g every six hours totaling 13.5 g (12.0 g piperacillin/1.5 g tazobactam).
Initial presumptive treatment of patients with nosocomial pneumonia should start with Zosyn at a dosage of 4.5 g every six hours plus an aminoglycoside, totaling 18.0 g (16.0 g piperacillin/2.0 g tazobactam).
Dosage in patients with renal impairment (≤40 mL/min of CRCL) and dialysis patients should be reduced, based on the degree of actual renal function impairment.
For children with appendicitis and/or peritonitis the recommended Zosyn dosage is 100 mg piperacillin/12.5 mg tazobactam per kilogram of body weight, every 8 hours in pediatric patients 9 months of age and older. For pediatric patients 2 to 9 months of age, the recommended dosage is 80 mg piperacillin/10 mg tazobactam per kilogram of body weight, every 8 hours.
Zosyn and aminoglycosides should be reconstituted, diluted, and administered separately. Co-administration via Y-site can be done under certain conditions.
Which drugs or supplements interact with piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
- Probenecid may inhibit the renal tubular secretion (elimination via the kidneys) of piperacillin/tazobactam. This may cause higher, prolonged blood levels of piperacillin/tazobactam. The half-life of piperacillin is prolonged by 21% and the half-life of tazobactam by 71%.
- Piperacillin/tazobactam may inhibit platelet aggregation (formation of a blood clot) which may increase the risk of bleeding. Co-administration with blood thinning agents such as warfarin (Coumadin) requires close monitoring for signs or symptoms of bleeding.
- Piperacillin/tazobactam may prolong the neuromuscular blockade of vecuronium (Norcuron).
- Piperacillin/tazobactam may decrease the renal (kidney) elimination of methotrexate (Trexall). Patients on concurrent therapy with methotrexate should be monitored frequently for signs or symptoms of methotrexate toxicity.
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Is piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No evidence of fetal harm has been reported from the use of piperacillin/tazobactam, piperacillin alone, and tazobactam alone in mice and rats (animal studies). Piperacillin/tazobactam is known to cross the placenta. Piperacillin/tazobactam is approved for the treatment of postpartum infections. As with all medications, piperacillin/tazobactam should be used cautiously in pregnancy. The potential benefits of treatment should be weighed against any potential risk to the fetus. Piperacillin and tazobactam are classified as FDA pregnancy risk category C.
Piperacillin is excreted into human milk in small amounts. The excretion of tazobactam in human milk has not been studied. Due to the lack of safety data, piperacillin/tazobactam should be used cautiously in females who are breastfeeding.
What else should I know about piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection?
What preparations of piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection are available?
- Piperacillin and tazobactam for injection are supplied as a powder for reconstitution (mixing).
- Powder for solution for injection: 2.25, 3.375, 4.5, 40.5 g
How should I keep piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection stored?
Piperacillin and tazobactam vials should be stored at controlled room temperature, between 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F), before reconstitution.
Summary
Piperacillin and tazobactam (Zosyn) is a combination of two antibiotics prescribed to treat a variety of bacterial infections such as pneumonia, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, E. coli infection, cellulitis, and postpartum endometriosis. Review side effects, drug interactions, dosage, and pregnancy safety information prior to taking this medication.
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Related Disease Conditions
- Cellulitis Cellulitis is an acute spreading bacterial infection below the surface of the skin characterized by redness, warmth, inflammation, and pain. The most common cause of cellulitis is the bacteria staph (Staphylococcus aureus).
- Appendicitis Appendicitis, or inflammation of the appendix, has many different causes. Pain in the abdomen is the most common symptom, but you also may experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fever. Learn about treatment and surgery.
- Pneumonia Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. Symptoms and signs include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and chills. Antibiotics treat pneumonia, and the choice of the antibiotic depends upon the cause of the infection.
- Endometriosis Endometriosis implants are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, the outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity. They also can be found in the vagin*, cervix, and bladder.
- Is E. coli Contagious? E. coli is an infection found worldwide. There are several subtypes of the E. coli species. E. coli spreads from person to person via contaminated food or water. Symptoms and signs of E. coli infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever. Antibiotics treat E. coli infection.
- E. coli (0157:H7) Infection There are many types of E. coli (Escherichia coli). E. coli can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, or lead to sepsis. E coli O157:H7 (EHEC) causes bloody diarrhea and colitis. Complications of E. coli infection include hemorrhagic diarrhea, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. E coli O157:H7 commonly is due to eating raw or undercooked hamburgers or raw milk or dairy products.
- Diabetes Foot Problems Diabetes related foot problems can affect your health with two problems: diabetic neuropathy, where diabetes affects the nerves, and peripheral vascular disease, where diabetes affects the flow of blood. Common foot problems for people with diabetes include athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, foot ulcers, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
- Enterovirulent E. coli (EEC) Enterovirulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) are strains of related bacteria that have a strong propensity to cause gastrointestinal tract infections. Examples of strains include EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli), EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli), EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli), and EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli). Symptoms may vary depending on the strain the individual contracts. Infection is spread generally through contaminated food or drink.
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See more info: piperacillin/tazobactam sodium-injection on RxList
Medically Reviewed on 10/24/2022
References
Medically reviewed by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
REFERENCE:
FDA Prescribing information.
