From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ... The usual dosage of PIPRACIL for serious infections is 3 to 4 g given every four to six hours as a 20- to 30-minute infusion.
DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS Type of InfectionUsual Total Daily Dose Serious infections such as septicemia, nosocomial pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, aerobic and anaerobic gynecologic infections, and skin and soft tissue infections 12 – 18 g/d I.V. (200 – 300 mg/kg/d) in divided doses every 4 to 6 h
The recommended dose of Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) for adults with normal renal function is 12 – 18 g/d I.V. (200 – 300 mg/kg/d) in divided doses every 4 to 6 h for serious infections, and 3 to 4 g given every four to six hours as a 20- to 30-minute infusion 1.
From the Research
The recommended dose of Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) for adults with normal renal function is 4.5 grams (4 g piperacillin/0.5 g tazobactam) administered intravenously every 8 hours, as this dosing regimen provides adequate blood levels to treat most susceptible bacterial infections 2.
Key Considerations
- For severe infections, particularly those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the same dose may be given more frequently at 6-hour intervals (4.5 g every 6 hours) 3.
- Tazocin should be administered as a slow intravenous infusion over 30 minutes to minimize vein irritation and other infusion-related reactions.
- The duration of therapy typically ranges from 7 to 14 days depending on the type and severity of infection being treated, though this may be adjusted based on clinical response.
- Piperacillin is a broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic, while tazobactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that prevents bacterial enzymes from inactivating piperacillin, thereby extending its antimicrobial spectrum to include many resistant organisms.
- Dose adjustments are necessary for patients with renal impairment, and therapeutic drug monitoring may be beneficial in critically ill patients to ensure optimal dosing 4, 5.
Important Notes
- A study published in 2022 found that a dose of 12/1.5 g/24 h as a continuous infusion is sufficient to reach a tazobactam concentration above the target and a piperacillin concentration above the target of 100% f T>1×MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] ≤ 16 mg/L) 2.
- However, to reach a target of 100% f T>5×MIC with an MIC of 16 mg/L, piperacillin doses of up to 20 g/24 h are inadequate, and potential toxic piperacillin levels were reached in 19.6% and 47.8% of the population with a dose of 12 g/24 h and 20 g/24 h, respectively 2.
- Therefore, dosing guided by renal function and therapeutic drug monitoring could enhance target attainment in such cases 5.