Piperacillin-tazobactam
Piperacillin/tazobactam
Combination antibiotic medication
Piperacillin/tazobactam, sold under the brand name Tazocin among others, is a combination medication containing the antibiotic piperacillin and the β-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam.[3] The combination has activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.[3] It is used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, intra-abdominal infection, pneumonia, cellulitis, and sepsis.[3] It is given by injection into a vein.[4]
Common adverse effects include headache, trouble sleeping, rash, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.[3] Serious adverse effects include Clostridium difficile infection and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.[3] Those who are allergic to other β-lactam are more likely to be allergic to piperacillin/tazobactam.[3] Use in pregnancy or breastfeeding appears to generally be safe.[5] It usually results in bacterial death through blocking their ability to make a cell wall.[3]
Piperacillin/tazobactam was approved for medical use in the United States in 1993.[3] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[6] It is available as a generic medication.[4]