What antibiotic is recommended based on these susceptibility results?

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Last updated: June 16, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Based on the provided susceptibility results, the recommended antibiotic is Piperacillin/Tazobactam, as it shows susceptibility (S) to the organism, with a MIC of <=4. The susceptibility results provided are:

  • AMOX/CLAVULANATE: S, 4
  • AMP/SULBACTAM: S, 4
  • CEFAZOLIN: R, >=32
  • CEFEPIME: R, 16
  • CEFTAZIDIME: R, >=32
  • CEFTRIAXONE: R, >=64
  • CIPROFLOXACIN: R, >=4
  • GENTAMICIN: S, <=1
  • IMIPENEM: S, <=0.25
  • LEVOFLOXACIN: R, >=8
  • MEROPENEM: S, <=0.25
  • NITROFURANTOIN: S, <=16
  • PIP/TAZOBACTAM: S, <=4
  • TRIMETHOPRIM/SULFA: R, >=320 Given the options, Piperacillin/Tazobactam is a suitable choice, as supported by the guidelines for the treatment of infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms 1. Some key points to consider when selecting an antibiotic include:
  • The identified pathogen and its susceptibility pattern
  • The site of infection
  • Patient-specific factors, such as allergies and kidney function
  • Local resistance patterns
  • The specific susceptibility results It is essential to note that antibiotic selection should be guided by these factors to ensure effective treatment and minimize the risk of adverse effects. In this case, Piperacillin/Tazobactam is a recommended option, but it is crucial to consider the individual patient's needs and the specific infection being treated. The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) guidelines also suggest considering piperacillin-tazobactam for low-risk, non-severe infections due to 3GCephRE, under the consideration of antibiotic stewardship 1. Therefore, Piperacillin/Tazobactam is the recommended antibiotic based on the provided susceptibility results.

From the FDA Drug Label

The provided susceptibility results are: AMOX/CLAVULANATE S 4
AMP/SULBACTAM S 4
CEFAZOLIN R >=32
CEFEPIME R 16
CEFTAZIDIME R >=32
CEFTRIAXONE R >=64
CIPROFLOXACIN R >=4
GENTAMICIN S <=1
IMIPENEM S <=0.25
LEVOFLOXACIN R >=8
MEROPENEM S <=0.25
NITROFURANTOIN S <=16
PIP/TAZOBACTAM S <=4
TRIMETHOPRIM/SULFA R >=320

Based on these results, the recommended antibiotics are:

  • AMOX/CLAVULANATE
  • AMP/SULBACTAM
  • GENTAMICIN
  • IMIPENEM
  • MEROPENEM
  • NITROFURANTOIN
  • PIP/TAZOBACTAM These antibiotics have shown susceptibility against the bacteria, with an 'S' indicating that the bacteria is likely to be inhibited by the antibiotic. 2, 2, 3

From the Research

Antibiotic Susceptibility Results

The provided susceptibility results show the following antibiotics as sensitive (S) or resistant (R) with their corresponding minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs):

  • AMOX/CLAVULANATE: S, 4
  • AMP/SULBACTAM: S, 4
  • CEFAZOLIN: R, >=32
  • CEFEPIME: R, 16
  • CEFTAZIDIME: R, >=32
  • CEFTRIAXONE: R, >=64
  • CIPROFLOXACIN: R, >=4
  • GENTAMICIN: S, <=1
  • IMIPENEM: S, <=0.25
  • LEVOFLOXACIN: R, >=8
  • MEROPENEM: S, <=0.25
  • NITROFURANTOIN: S, <=16
  • PIP/TAZOBACTAM: S, <=4
  • TRIMETHOPRIM/SULFA: R, >=320

Recommended Antibiotics

Based on the susceptibility results and the studies provided 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, the recommended antibiotics for treatment are:

  • AMOX/CLAVULANATE
  • AMP/SULBACTAM
  • GENTAMICIN
  • IMIPENEM
  • MEROPENEM
  • NITROFURANTOIN
  • PIP/TAZOBACTAM

Key Findings

  • The studies suggest that carbapenems, such as imipenem and meropenem, have a wide spectrum of activity against Enterobacteriaceae and are effective against many Gram-negative bacteria 5, 6, 8.
  • Nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin are recommended as first-line treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to their high susceptibility rates and low resistance rates 4, 7.
  • The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as carbapenems, should be reserved for complicated UTIs or cases where other antibiotics are not effective 4, 6.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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