Piperacillin/Tazobactam

Abstract
Combining tazobactam, a β-lactamase inhibitor, with the ureidopenicillin, piperacillin, successfully restores the activity of piperacillin against β-lactamase-producing bacteria. Tazobactam has inhibitory activity, and therefore protects piperacillin against Richmond and Sykes types II, III, IV and V β-lactamases, staphylococcal penicillinase and extended-spectrum β-lactamases. However, tazobactam has only species-specific activity against class I chromosomally-mediated enzymes. Resistant organisms include some Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp., Xanthomonas maltophilia and Enterococcus faecium.