Combination of | |
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Piperacillin | Ureidopenicillin antibiotic |
Tazobactam | Beta-lactamase inhibitor |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Tazocin, Zosyn, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a694003 |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration |
Intravenous infusion |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status |
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Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
PubChem CID | |
ChemSpider | |
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(what is this?) |
Piperacillin/tazobactam, sold under the brand name Tazocin among others, is a combination medication containing the antibiotic piperacillin and the β-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam. The combination has activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, intraabdominal infection, pneumonia, cellulitis, and sepsis. It is given by injection into a vein.
Common side effects include headache, trouble sleeping, rash, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Serious side effects include Clostridium difficile infection and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Those who are allergic to other β-lactam are more likely to be allergic to piperacillin/tazobactam. Use in pregnancy or breastfeeding appears to generally be safe. It usually results in bacterial death through blocking their ability to make a cell wall.
Piperacillin/tazobactam was approved for medical use in the United States in 1993. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world, as of 2015, is about 11 USD per day. In the United Kingdom, as of 2015, this amount costs the NHS about 38.70 pounds per day.