From the Guidelines
Zosyn (piperacillin-tazobactam) provides broad-spectrum coverage of gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Enterobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Bacteroides fragilis, and many streptococci, making it a suitable option for treating complicated infections like intra-abdominal infections, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and febrile neutropenia 1.
Key Coverage and Limitations
- Zosyn's coverage includes:
- Gram-negative aerobic and facultative bacilli
- Anaerobic bacteria
- Certain gram-positive bacteria
- However, Zosyn does not cover:
- MRSA
- Most Enterococcus faecium
- Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms
Clinical Use
- Zosyn is typically administered intravenously at doses of 3.375g or 4.5g every 6-8 hours, with adjustments needed for patients with renal impairment 1.
- The drug works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, causing bacterial cell death.
Guideline Recommendations
- The Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend Zosyn as an option for empiric therapy in high-risk or severely ill adults with intra-abdominal infections 1.
- The World Society of Emergency Surgery recommends Zosyn as an option for hospital-acquired intra-abdominal infections in patients with a risk of multidrug-resistant organisms 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Piperacillin and tazobactam for injection is a combination of piperacillin, a penicillin-class antibacterial and tazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of: Intra-abdominal infections in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older (1.1) Nosocomial pneumonia in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older (1. 2) Skin and skin structure infections in adults (1.3) Female pelvic infections in adults (1.4) Community-acquired pneumonia in adults (1. 5)
The coverage of Zosyn (Piperacillin/Tazobactam) includes:
- Intra-abdominal infections
- Nosocomial pneumonia
- Skin and skin structure infections
- Female pelvic infections
- Community-acquired pneumonia 2
From the Research
Coverage of Zosyn (Piperacillin/Tazobactam)
The coverage of Zosyn (Piperacillin/Tazobactam) includes:
- Gram-positive aerobic bacteria
- Gram-negative aerobic bacteria
- Anaerobic bacteria
- Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria
- Some extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
Specific Pathogens Covered
Some specific pathogens covered by Zosyn (Piperacillin/Tazobactam) include:
- Escherichia coli
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Enterobacter species
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Clinical Uses
Zosyn (Piperacillin/Tazobactam) is used to treat a variety of infections, including:
- Intra-abdominal infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Complicated urinary tract infections
- Gynecological infections
- Febrile neutropenia
Evidence from Studies
Studies have shown that Zosyn (Piperacillin/Tazobactam) is effective against a broad range of pathogens, including those producing beta-lactamases 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The combination of piperacillin and tazobactam provides a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, making it a useful option for the treatment of polymicrobial infections 4, 6.