Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2021 Publisher: Pfizer Limited, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ, United Kingdom
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, Combinations of penicillins incl. beta-lactamase inhibitors;
ATC code: J01CR05
Piperacillin, a broad-spectrum, semisynthetic penicillin exerts bactericidal activity by inhibition of both septum and cell-wall synthesis.
Tazobactam, a beta-lactam structurally related to penicillins, is an inhibitor of many beta-lactamases, which commonly cause resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins but it does not inhibit AmpC enzymes or metallo beta-lactamases. Tazobactam extends the antibiotic spectrum of piperacillin to include many beta-lactamase-producing bacteria that have acquired resistance to piperacillin alone.
The time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (T > MIC) is considered to be the major pharmacodynamic determinant of efficacy for piperacillin.
The two main mechanisms of resistance to piperacillin / tazobactam are:
Additionally, alterations in bacterial membrane permeability, as well as expression of multi-drug efflux pumps, may cause or contribute to bacterial resistance to piperacillin / tazobactam, especially in Gram-negative bacteria.
EUCAST Clinical MIC Breakpoints for piperacillin/tazobactam (EUCAST Clinical Breakpoint Table Version 10.0, valid from 2020-01-01). For susceptibility testing purposes, the concentration of tazobactam is fixed at 4 mg/L.
| Pathogen | Species-related breakpoints (S≤/R>), mg/L of piperacillin |
|---|---|
| Enterobacterales (formerly Enterobacteriaceae) | 8/16 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | <0.001/161 |
| Staphylococcus species | -2 |
| Enterococcus species | -3 |
| Streptococcus Groups A, B, C, and G | -4 |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | -5 |
| Viridans group streptococci | -6 |
| Haemophilus influenzae | 0.25/0.25 |
| Moraxella catarrhalis | -7 |
| Gram-positive anaerobes (except Clostridioides difficile) | 8/16 |
| Gram-negative anaerobes | 8/16 |
| Non-species related (PK/PD) breakpoints | 4/16 |
1 For several agents, EUCAST has introduced breakpoints which categorise wild-type organisms (organisms without phenotypically detectable acquired resistance mechanisms to the agent) as “Susceptible, increased exposure (I)” instead of “Susceptible, standard dosing regimen (S)”. Susceptible breakpoints for these organism-agent combinations are listed as arbitrary, “off scale” breakpoints of S ≤ 0.001 mg/L.
2 Most staphylococci are penicillinase producers, and some are methicillin resistant. Either mechanism renders them resistant to benzylpenicillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, piperacillin and ticarcillin. Staphylococci that test susceptible to benzylpenicillin and cefoxitin can be reported susceptible to all penicillins. Staphylococci that test resistant to benzylpenicillin but susceptible to cefoxitin are susceptible to β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, the isoxazolylpenicillins (oxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin) and nafcillin. For agents given orally, care to achieve sufficient exposure at the site of the infection should be exercised. Staphylococci that test resistant to cefoxitin are resistant to all penicillins. Ampicillin susceptible S. saprophyticus are mecA-negative and susceptible to ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin (without or with a beta-lactamase inhibitor).
3 Susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin (with and without beta-lactamase inhibitor) can be inferred from ampicillin. Ampicillin resistance is uncommon in E. faecalis (confirm with MIC) but common in E. faecium.
4 The susceptibility of Streptococcus groups A, B, C and G to penicillins is inferred from the benzylpenicillin susceptibility with the exception of phenoxymethylpenicillin and isoxazolylpenicillins for Streptococcus group B. Streptococcus groups A, B, C and G do not produce beta-lactamase. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor does not add clinical benefit.
5 The oxacillin 1 µg disk screen test or a benzylpenicillin MIC test shall be used to exclude beta-lactam resistance mechanisms. When the screen is negative (oxacillin inhibition zone ≥20 mm, or benzylpenicillin MIC ≤0.06 mg/L) all beta-lactam agents for which clinical breakpoints are available, including those with “Note” can be reported susceptible without further testing, except for cefaclor, which if reported, should be reported as “susceptible, increased exposure” (I). Streptococcus pneumoniae do not produce beta-lactamase. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor does not add clinical benefit. Susceptibility inferred from ampicillin (MIC or zone diameter).
6 For isolates susceptible to benzylpenicillin, susceptibility can be inferred from benzylpenicillin or ampicillin. For isolates resistant to benzylpenicillin, susceptibility is inferred from ampicillin.
7 Susceptibility can be inferred from amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
The prevalence of acquired resistance may vary geographically and with time for selected species, and local information on resistance is desirable, particularly when treating severe infections. As necessary, expert advice should be sought when the local prevalence of resistance is such that the utility of the agent in at least some types of infections is questionable.
Groupings of relevant species according to piperacillin / tazobactam susceptibility:
Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms:
Enterococcus faecalis (ampicillin- or penicillin-susceptible isolates only)
Listeria monocytogenes
Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates only)
Staphylococcus species, coagulase negative (methicillin-susceptible isolates only)
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococci)†
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococci)†
Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms:
Citrobacter koseri
Haemophilus influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis
Proteus mirabilis
Anaerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms:
Clostridium species
Eubacterium species
Anaerobic gram-positive cocci††
Anaerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms:
Bacteroides fragilis group
Fusobacterium species
Porphyromonas species
Prevotella species
Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms:
Enterococcus faecium
Streptococcus pneumoniae†
Streptococcus viridans group†
Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms:
Acinetobacter baumannii
Citrobacter freundii
Enterobacter species
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Morganella morganii
Proteus vulgaris
Providencia ssp.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Serratia species
Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms:
Corynebacterium jeikeium
Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms:
Burkholderia cepacia
Legionella species
Ochrobactrum anthropi
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Other micro-organisms
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
† Streptococci are not β-lactamase producing bacteria; resistance in these organisms is due to alterations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and, therefore, susceptible isolates are susceptible to piperacillin alone. Penicillin resistance has not been reported in S. pyogenes.
†† Including Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Parvimonas, Peptoniphilus, and Peptostreptococcus spp.
In a prospective, non-inferiority, parallel-group, published randomized clinical trial, definitive (i.e. based on susceptibility confirmed in-vitro) treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam, compared with meropenem, did not result in a non-inferior 30-day mortality in adult patients with ceftriaxone-non-susceptible E. coli or K. pneumoniae blood stream infections.
A total of 23 of 187 patients (12.3%) randomized to piperacillin/tazobactam met the primary outcome of mortality at 30 days compared with 7 of 191 (3.7%) randomized to meropenem (risk difference, 8.6% [1-sided 97.5% CI − ∞ to 14.5%]; P = 0.90 for non-inferiority). The difference did not meet the non-inferiority margin of 5%.
Effects were consistent in an analysis of the per-protocol population, with 18 of 170 patients (10.6%) meeting the primary outcome in a piperacillin/tazobactam group compared with 7 of 186 (3.8%) in the meropenem group (risk difference, 6.8% [one-sided 97.5% CI, - ∞ to 12.8%]; P = 0.76 for non-inferiority).
Clinical and microbiological resolution (secondary outcomes) by day 4 occurred in 121 of 177 patients (68.4%) in the piperacillin/tazobactam group compared with 138 of 185 (74.6%), randomized to meropenem (risk difference, 6.2% [95% CI − 15.5 to 3.1%]; P = 0.19). For secondary outcomes, statistical tests were 2-sided, with a P <0.05 considered significant.
In this trial, a mortality imbalance between study groups was found. It was supposed that deaths occurred in piperacillin/tazobactam group were related to underlying diseases rather than to the concomitant infection.
The peak piperacillin and tazobactam concentrations after 4 g / 0.5 g administered over 30 minutes by intravenous infusion are 298 µg/ml and 34 µg/ml respectively.
Both piperacillin and tazobactam are approximately 30% bound to plasma proteins. The protein binding of either piperacillin or tazobactam is unaffected by the presence of the other compound. Protein binding of the tazobactam metabolite is negligible.
Piperacillin / tazobactam is widely distributed in tissues and body fluids including intestinal mucosa, gallbladder, lung, bile, and bone. Mean tissue concentrations are generally 50 to 100% of those in plasma. Distribution into cerebrospinal fluid is low in subjects with non-inflamed meninges, as with other penicillins.
Piperacillin is metabolised to a minor microbiologically active desethyl metabolite. Tazobactam is metabolised to a single metabolite that has been found to be microbiologically inactive.
Piperacillin and tazobactam are eliminated via the kidney by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.
Piperacillin is excreted rapidly as unchanged substance, with 68% of the administered dose appearing in the urine. Tazobactam and its metabolite are eliminated primarily by renal excretion, with 80% of the administered dose appearing as unchanged substance and the remainder as the single metabolite. Piperacillin, tazobactam, and desethyl piperacillin are also secreted into the bile.
Following single or multiple doses of piperacillin / tazobactam to healthy subjects, the plasma half-life of piperacillin and tazobactam ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 hours and was unaffected by dose or duration of infusion. The elimination half-lives of both piperacillin and tazobactam are increased with decreasing renal clearance.
There are no significant changes in piperacillin pharmacokinetics due to tazobactam. Piperacillin appears to slightly reduce the clearance of tazobactam.
The half-life of piperacillin and of tazobactam increases by approximately 25% and 18%, respectively, in patients with hepatic cirrhosis compared to healthy subjects.
The half-life of piperacillin and tazobactam increases with decreasing creatinine clearance. The increase in half-life is two-fold and four-fold for piperacillin and tazobactam, respectively, at creatinine clearance below 20 ml/min compared to patients with normal renal function.
Haemodialysis removes 30% to 50% of piperacillin / tazobactam, with an additional 5% of the tazobactam dose removed as the tazobactam metabolite. Peritoneal dialysis removes approximately 6% and 21% of the piperacillin and tazobactam doses, respectively, with up to 18% of the tazobactam dose removed as the tazobactam metabolite.
In a population PK analysis, estimated clearance for 9 month-old to 12 year-old patients was comparable to adults, with a population mean (SE) value of 5.64 (0.34) ml/min/kg. The piperacillin clearance estimate is 80% of this value for paediatric patients 2-9 months of age. The population mean (SE) for piperacillin volume of distribution is 0.243 (0.011) l/kg and is independent of age.
The mean half-life for piperacillin and tazobactam were 32% and 55% longer, respectively, in the elderly compared with younger subjects. This difference may be due to age-related changes in creatinine clearance.
No difference in piperacillin or tazobactam pharmacokinetics was observed between Asian (n=9) and Caucasian (n=9) healthy volunteers who received single 4 g / 0.5 g doses.
Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of repeated dose toxicity and genotoxicity. Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with piperacillin / tazobactam.
A fertility and general reproduction study in rats using intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin / tazobactam reported a decrease in litter size and an increase in fetuses with ossification delays and variations of ribs, concurrent with maternal toxicity. Fertility of the F1 generation and embryonic development of F2 generation were not impaired.
Teratogenicity studies using intravenous administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin / tazobactam in mice and rats resulted in slight reductions in rat fetal weights at maternally toxic doses but did not show teratogenic effects.
Peri/postnatal development was impaired (reduced pup weights, increase in stillbirths, increase in pup mortality) concurrent with maternal toxicity after intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin / tazobactam in the rat.
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