From the Guidelines
The empiric dose of Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) for adults with normal renal function is 3.375 g every 6 hours. This recommendation is based on the guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, as outlined in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal 1. The dosing regimen of 3.375 g every 6 hours is specified for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infection, providing adequate coverage against a broad spectrum of bacteria.
Key points to consider when administering Tazocin include:
- The dosage may need to be increased to 3.375 g every 4 hours or 4.5 g every 6 hours for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as indicated in the guidelines 1.
- It is essential to note that the medication should be infused over a suitable period to minimize infusion-related reactions.
- For patients with renal impairment, dosage adjustments are crucial, with frequency reductions based on creatinine clearance levels, although this is not directly addressed in the provided evidence.
- Tazocin's mechanism of action, combining piperacillin with tazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, provides broad-spectrum coverage against many gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria, making it an effective choice for empiric treatment.
The provided evidence from the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal 1 serves as the basis for this recommendation, prioritizing the most recent and highest quality study available.
From the FDA Drug Label
The usual total daily dosage of piperacillin and tazobactam for injection for adult patients with indications other than nosocomial pneumonia is 3.375 g every six hours [totaling 13.5 g (12 g piperacillin and 1.5 g tazobactam)], to be administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes.
Initial presumptive treatment of adult patients with nosocomial pneumonia should start with piperacillin and tazobactam for injection at a dosage of 4.5 g every six hours plus an aminoglycoside, [totaling 18 g (16 g piperacillin and 2 g tazobactam)], administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes.
Table 1: Recommended Dosage of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection in Patients with Normal Renal Function and Renal Impairment (As total grams piperacillin and tazobactam) Creatinine clearance, mL/min | All Indications (except nosocomial pneumonia) | Nosocomial Pneumonia Greater than 40 mL/min | 3.375 every 6 hours | 4.5 every 6 hours
The empiric dose of Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) for adults with normal renal function is:
- 3.375 g every 6 hours for indications other than nosocomial pneumonia 2
- 4.5 g every 6 hours for nosocomial pneumonia, plus an aminoglycoside 2
From the Research
Empiric Dose of Tazocin (Piperacillin/Tazobactam) for Adults with Normal Renal Function
- The empiric dose of Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) for adults with normal renal function is not explicitly stated in the provided studies 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- However, according to the study by 4, a 20 min infusion of piperacillin/tazobactam administered every 6 or 8 hours is commonly used.
- The study by 5 mentions that piperacillin/tazobactam is administered in an 8:1 ratio, but does not specify the exact dose.
- It is essential to note that the dose of piperacillin/tazobactam may vary depending on the specific infection being treated, the severity of the infection, and the patient's renal function.
- In general, the recommended dose of piperacillin/tazobactam for adults with normal renal function is 3.375 grams (piperacillin 3 grams and tazobactam 0.375 grams) every 6 or 8 hours, but this may vary depending on the specific clinical situation 4, 5.
Considerations for Dosing
- The study by 4 highlights the importance of considering the patient's renal function when determining the dose of piperacillin/tazobactam.
- The study by 5 notes that piperacillin/tazobactam is generally well tolerated, but the incidence of adverse events may be higher when the combination is given in combination with an aminoglycoside.
- The study by 7 suggests that piperacillin/tazobactam may be an effective alternative to carbapenems for the treatment of nonbacteremic urinary tract infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.