PIPERACILLIN+TAZOBACTAM Powder for solution for infusion Ref.[116769] Active ingredients: Piperacillin and Tazobactam

The selection of Piperacillin/Tazobactam to treat an individual patient should take into account the appropriateness of using a broad-spectrum semi-synthetic penicillin based on factors such as the severity of the infection and the prevalence of resistance to other suitable antibacterial agents.

Before initiating therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, other beta-lactam agents (e.g. cephalosporin, monobactam or carbapenem) and other allergens. Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic/anaphylactoid [including shock]) reactions have been reported in patients receiving therapy with penicillins, including Piperacillin/Tazobactam. These reactions are more likely to occur in persons with a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. Serious hypersensitivity reactions require the discontinuation of the antibiotic, and may require administration of epinephrine and other emergency measures.

Serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, and acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis have been reported in patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam (see section 4.8). If patients develop a skin rash they should be monitored closely and Piperacillin/Tazobactam discontinued if lesions progress.

Antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis may be manifested by severe, persistent diarrhoea which may be life-threatening. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibacterial treatment. In these cases Piperacillin/Tazobactam, should be discontinued.

Therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam may result in the emergence of resistant organisms, which might cause super-infections.

Bleeding manifestations have occurred in some patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics. These reactions sometimes have been associated with abnormalities of coagulation tests, such as clotting time, platelet aggregation and prothrombin time, and are more likely to occur in patients with renal failure. If bleeding manifestations occur, the antibiotic should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

Leukopenia and neutropenia may occur, especially during prolonged therapy. Therefore, periodic assessment of a full blood count should be performed.

As with treatment with other penicillins, neurological complications in the form of convulsions may occur when high doses are administered, especially in patients with impaired renal function.

This medicinal product contains 9.44 mmol (217 mg) of sodium per vial of powder for solution for infusion.. To be taken into account by patients on a controlled sodium diet.

Hypokalaemia may occur in patients with low potassium reserves or those receiving concomitant medicinal products that may lower potassium levels; periodic electrolyte determinations may be advisable in such patients.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

Cases of HLH have been reported in patients treated with piperacillin/tazobactam, often following treatment longer than 10 days. HLH is a life-threatening syndrome of pathologic immune activation characterised by clinical signs and symptoms of an excessive systemic inflammation (e.g. fever, hepatosplenomegaly, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypofibrinogenaemia, high serum ferritin, cytopenias and haemophagocytosis). Patients who develop early manifestations of pathologic immune activation should be evaluated immediately. If diagnosis of HLH is established, piperacillin/tazobactam treatment should be discontinued.

Renal Impairment

Due to its potential nephrotoxicity (see section 4.8), piperacillin/tazobactam should be used with care in patients with renal impairment or in hemodialysis patients. Intravenous dosages and administration intervals should be adjusted to the degree of renal function impairment (see section 4.2).

In a secondary analysis using data from a large multicenter, randomized-controlled trial when glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was examined after administration of frequently used antibiotics in critically ill patients, the use of piperacillin/tazobactam was associated with a lower rate of reversible GFR improvement compared with the other antibiotics. This secondary analysis concluded that piperacillin/tazobactam was a cause of delayed renal recovery in these patients.

Non-depolarising muscle relaxants

Piperacillin when used concomitantly with vecuronium has been implicated in the prolongation of the neuromuscular blockade of vecuronium. Due to their similar mechanisms of action, it is expected that the neuromuscular blockade produced by any of the non-depolarising muscle relaxants could be prolonged in the presence of piperacillin.

Oral anticoagulants

During simultaneous administration of heparin, oral anticoagulants and other drugs that may affect the blood coagulation system including thrombocyte function, appropriate coagulation tests should be performed more frequently and monitored regularly.

Methotrexate

Piperacillin may reduce the excretion of methotrexate; therefore, serum levels of methotrexate should be monitored in patients to avoid substance toxicity.

Probenecid

As with other penicillins, concurrent administration of probenecid and Piperacillin/Tazobactam produces a longer half-life and lower renal clearance for both piperacillin and tazobactam; however, peak plasma concentrations of either substances are unaffected.

Aminoglycosides

Piperacillin, either alone or with tazobactam, did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of tobramycin in subjects with normal renal function and with mild or moderate renal impairment. The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin, tazobactam, and the M1 metabolite were also not significantly altered by tobramycin administration.

The inactivation of tobramycin and gentamicin by piperacillin has been demonstrated in patients with severe renal impairment.

For information related to the administration of Piperacillin/Tazobactam with aminoglycosides please refer to sections 6.2 and 6.6.

Vancomycin

No pharmacokinetic interactions have been noted between Piperacillin/Tazobactam and vancomycin.

However, a limited number of retrospective studies have detected an increased incidence of acute kidney injury in patients concomitantly administered Piperacillin/Tazobactam and vancomycin as compared to vancomycin alone.

Effects on laboratory tests

Non-enzymatic methods of measuring urinary glucose may lead to false-positive results, as with other penicillins. Therefore, enzymatic urinary glucose measurement is required under Piperacillin/Tazobactam therapy.

A number of chemical urine protein measurement methods may lead to false-positive results. Protein measurement with dip sticks is not affected.

The direct Coombs test may be positive.

Bio-Rad Laboratories Platelia Aspergillus EIA tests may lead to false-positive results for patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam. Cross-reactions with non-Aspergillus polysaccharides and polyfuranoses with Bio-Rad Laboratories Platelia Aspergillus EIA test have been reported.

Positive test results for the assays listed above in patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam should be confirmed by other diagnostic methods.

Pregnancy

There are no or a limited amount of data from the use of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown developmental toxicity, but no evidence of teratogenicity, at doses that are maternally toxic (see section 5.3). Piperacillin and tazobactam cross the placenta. Piperacillin/Tazobactam should only be used during pregnancy if clearly indicated, i.e. only if the expected benefit outweighs the possible risks to the pregnant woman and foetus.

Breast-feeding

Piperacillin is excreted in low concentrations in breast milk; tazobactam concentrations in human milk have not been studied. Women who are breast-feeding should be treated only if the expected benefit outweighs the possible risks to the woman and child.

Fertility

A fertility study in rats showed no effect on fertility and mating after intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination Piperacillin/Tazobactam (see section 5.3).

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.

The most commonly reported adverse reaction is diarrhoea (occurring in 1 patient out of 10) are diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and rash.

Among the most serious adverse reactions pseudo-membranous colitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis occur in 1 to 10 patients in 10,000. The frequencies for pancytopenia, anaphylactic shock and Stevens-Johnson syndrome cannot be estimated from the currently available data.

In the following table, adverse reactions are listed by system organ class and MedDRA-preferred term. Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

^* ADR identified post marketing

Piperacillin therapy has been associated with an increased incidence of fever and rash in cystic fibrosis patients.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.

Whenever Piperacillin/Tazobactam is used concurrently with another antibiotic (e.g. aminoglycosides), the substances must be administered separately. The mixing of Piperacillin/Tazobactam with an aminoglycoside in vitro can result in substantial inactivation of the aminoglycoside.

Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be mixed with other substances in a syringe or infusion bottle since compatibility has not been established.

Because of chemical instability, Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be used with solutions containing only sodium bicarbonate.

Lactated Ringer's solution is not compatible with Piperacillin/Tazobactam.

Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be added to blood products or albumin hydrolysates