Piperacillin

drugbox
IUPAC_name = (2"S",5"R",6"R")-6-{ [(2"R")-2- [(4-ethyl-2,3-dioxo-piperazine-
1-carbonyl)amino] -2-phenyl-acetyl] amino}-3,3-dimethyl-
7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo [3.2.0] heptane-2-carboxylic acid

---

CAS_number = 66258-76-2
ATC_prefix = J01
ATC_suffix = CA12
ATC_supplemental =
PubChem = 43672
DrugBank = APRD00325
C = 23 | H = 26 | N = 5 | O = 7 | S = 1
molecular_weight = 516.548 g/mol
bioavailability = not absorbed orally
protein_bound =
metabolism = largely not metabolised
excretion = 20% in bile, 80% unchanged in urine
elimination_half-life = 36–72 minutes
pregnancy_category = B
legal_UK = POM
routes_of_administration = IV, IM

Piperacillin is an extended spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the ureidopenicillin class. It is normally used together with a beta-lactamase inhibitor such as tazobactam, which is commercially available as Tazocin, Zobactin or Zosyn. The combination has activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and anaerobes, including "Pseudomonas aeruginosa".

Piperacillin is not absorbed orally, and must therefore be given by intravenous or intramuscular injection; piperacillin/tazobactam is administered intravenously every 6 or 8 hours; the drug may also be given by continuous infusion, but this has not been shown to be superior. [cite journal | title=Randomized, open-label, comparative study of piperacillin-tazobactam administered by continuous infusion versus intermittent infusion for treatment of hospitalized patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection | author=Lau W, Mercer D, Itani K, "et al." | journal=Antimicrob Agents Chemother | year=2006 | volume=50 | issue=11 | pages=3556–61 | pmid=16940077 | doi=10.1128/AAC.00329-06 ] 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).

Trade names and preparations

Piperacillin alone:
* Pipracil (U.S. only)

Piperacillin/tazobactam:
* Tazocin (UK, marketed by Wyeth)
* Tazocin (Japan, marketed by Toyama)
* Tazocin (New Zealand, marketed by Wyeth)
* Zosyn (U.S., marketed by Wyeth)
* Zobactin (India, marketed by GSK)

References

External links

* [http://www.zosyn.com Zosyn (piperacillin/tazobactam combination) - information for U.S.]
* [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/t/Tazocininj.htm Tazocin data sheet for New Zealand]