- Approval Id
- c3d76dd26dfed9bf
- Drug Approval Emc Name
- Piperacillin 2g / Tazobactam 250mg powder for solution for infusion vials
- Drug Name
- Piperacillin 2g / Tazobactam 250mg powder for solution for infusion vials
- Company Name
- Bowmed Ibisqus Limited
- Company Address
- The Old Dairy, Brynkinalt Business Centre, Brynkinalt, Chirk, Wrexham, LL14 5NS, UK
- Company Website
- http://www.bowmed.com
- Company Telephone
- +44 (0)845 6436 703
- Company Medical Info Direct Line
- +44 (0)1483 212 151
- Company Medical Info Email
- medinfo@bowmed.com
- Company Customer Care Direct Line
- +44 (0)845 6436 703
- Company Stock Availability
- +44 (0)845 6436 703
- Atc Code
- J01CR05
- Legal Category
- Prescription only medicine
- Authorisation Holder
- Ibigen S.r.l.
Via Fossignano 2
04011-Aprilia (LT)
Italy
- Authorisation Number
- PL 31745/0005
- Authorisation Date
- 19/03/2013
- Instruction Authorisation Holder
- Ibigen S.r.l.
Via Fossignano 2
04011-Aprilia (LT)
Italy
- Instruction Authorisation Number
- PL 31745/0005
- Instruction Authorisation Date
- 19/03/2013
- Instruction Composition
- Each vial contains piperacillin (as sodium salt) equivalent to 2 g and tazobactam (as sodium salt) equivalent to 0.25 g.
Each vial contains 4.70 mmol (108 mg) of sodium.
- Instruction Dosage Form
- Powder for solution for infusion.
White to off-white powder.
- Instruction Clinical Particulars
- 4.1 Therapeutic indications
Piperacillin/Tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g Powder for Solution for Infusion is indicated for treatment of the following infections in adults and children over 2 years of age (see sections 4.2 and 5.1):
\*\*Adults and adolescents\*\*
• Severe pneumonia including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia
• Complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis)
• Complicated intra-abdominal infections
• Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (including diabetic foot infections)
Treatment of patients with bacteraemia that occurs in association with, or is suspected to be associated with any of the infections listed above.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam may be used in the management of neutropenic patients with fever suspected to be due to a bacterial infection.
Note: Use for bacteraemia due to extended-beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing \*E. coli\* and \*K. pneumoniae\* (ceftriaxone non-susceptible), is not recommended in adult patients, see section 5.1.
\*\*Children aged 2-12 years\*\*
• Complicated intra-abdominal infections
Piperacillin/Tazobactam may be used in the management of neutropenic children with fever suspected to be due to a bacterial infection.
Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of anti-bacterial agents.4.2 Posology and method of administration
\*\*Posology\*\*
The dose and frequency of Piperacillin/Tazobactam depends on the severity and localisation of the infection and expected pathogens.
\*Adult and adolescent patients\*
\*\*\*Infections\*\*\*
The usual dose is 4 g piperacillin/0.5 g tazobactam given every 8 hours.
For nosocomial pneumonia and bacterial infections in neutropenic patients, the recommended dose is 4 g piperacillin/0.5 g tazobactam administered every 6 hours. This regimen may also be applicable to treat patients with other indicated infections when particularly severe.
The following table summarises the treatment frequency and the recommended dose for adult and adolescent patients by indication or condition:
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Treatment frequency\*\* | \*\*Piperacillin/Tazobactam 4 g/0.5 g\*\* |
| Every 6 hours | Severe pneumonia |
| Neutropenic adults with fever suspected to be due to a bacterial infection |
| Every 8 hours | Complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis) |
| Complicated intra-abdominal infections |
| Skin and soft tissue infections (including diabetic foot infections) |
\*\*\*Patients with renal\*\*\* \*\*\*impairment\*\*\*
The intravenous dose should be adjusted to the degree of actual renal impairment as follows (each patient must be monitored closely for signs of substance toxicity; medicinal product dose and interval should be adjusted accordingly).
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Creatinine clearance (ml/min)\*\* | \*\*Piperacillin/Tazobactam (recommended dose)\*\* |
| > 40 | No dose adjustment necessary |
| 20-40 | Maximum dose suggested: 4 g/0.5 g every 8 hours |
| < 20 | Maximum dose suggested: 4 g/0.5 g every 12 hours |
For patients on haemodialysis, one additional dose of piperacillin/tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g should be administered following each dialysis period, because haemodialysis removes 30%-50% of piperacillin in 4 hours.
\*\*\*Patients with hepatic\*\*\* \*\*\*impairment\*\*\*
No dose adjustment is necessary (see section 5.2).
\*\*\*Elderly patients\*\*\*
No dose adjustment is required for the elderly with normal renal function or creatinine clearance values above 40 ml/min.
\*Paediatric population (2-12 years of age)\*
\*\*\*Infections\*\*\*
The following table summarises the treatment frequency and the dose per body weight for paediatric patients 2-12 years of age by indication or condition.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Dose per weight and treatment frequency\*\* | \*\*Indication/condition\*\* |
| 80 mg Piperacillin/10 mg Tazobactam per kg body weight/every 6 hours | Neutropenic children with fever suspected to be due to bacterial infections\\* |
| 100 mg Piperacillin/12.5 mg Tazobactam per kg body weight/every 8 hours | Complicated intra-abdominal infections\\* |
\\* Not to exceed the maximum 4 g/0.5 g per dose over 30 minutes.
\*\*\*Patients with\*\*\* \*\*\*renal impairment\*\*\*
The intravenous dose should be adjusted to the degree of actual renal impairment as follows (each patient must be monitored closely for signs of substance toxicity; medicinal product dose and interval should be adjusted accordingly):
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Creatinine clearance\*\* \*\*(ml/min)\*\* | \*\*Piperacillin/Tazobactam (recommended dose)\*\* |
| > 50 | No dose adjustment necessary |
| ≤ 50 | 70 mg piperacillin/8.75 mg tazobactam/kg every 8 hours |
For children on haemodialysis, one additional dose of 40 mg piperacillin/5 mg tazobactam/kg should be administered following each dialysis period.
\*\*\*Use in children aged below 2 years\*\*\*
The safety and efficacy of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in children 0- 2 years of age has not been established. No data from controlled clinical studies are available.
\*\*Treatment duration\*\*
The usual duration of treatment for most indications is in the range of 5-14 days. However, the duration of treatment should be guided by the severity of the infection, the pathogen(s) and the patient's clinical and bacteriological progress.
\*\*Method of administration\*\*
Piperacillin/Tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g is administered by intravenous infusion (over 30 minutes).
For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substances or any other penicillin-antibacterial agent.
History of acute severe allergic reaction to any other beta-lactam active substances (e.g. cephalosporin, monobactam or carbapenem).4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
The selection of piperacillin/tazobactam to treat an individual patient should take into account the appropriateness of using a broad-spectrum semi-synthetic penicillin based on factors such as the severity of the infection and the prevalence of resistance to other suitable antibacterial agents.
Before initiating therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, other beta-lactam agents (e.g cephalosporins, monobactam or carbapenem) and other allergens. Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic/anaphylactoid [including shock]) reactions have been reported in patients receiving therapy with penicillins, including piperacillin/tazobactam. These reactions are more likely to occur in persons with a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. Serious hypersensitivity reactions require the discontinuation of the antibiotic, and may require administration of epinephrine and other emergency measures.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam may cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (see section 4.8). If patients develop a skin rash they should be monitored closely and Piperacillin/Tazobactam discontinued if lesions progress.
Antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis may be manifested by severe, persistent diarrhoea which may be life-threatening. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibacterial treatment. In these cases Piperacillin/Tazobactam, should be discontinued.
Therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam may result in the emergence of resistant organisms, which might cause superinfections.
Bleeding manifestations have occurred in some patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics. These reactions sometimes have been associated with abnormalities of coagulation tests, such as clotting time, platelet aggregation and prothrombin time, and are more likely to occur in patients with renal failure. If bleeding manifestations occur, the antibiotic should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.
Leukopenia and neutropenia may occur, especially during prolonged therapy, therefore, periodic assessment of haematopoietic function should be performed.
As with treatment with other penicillins, neurological complications in the form of convulsions (seizures) may occur when high doses are administered, especially in patients with impaired renal function (see section 4.8).
Hypokalaemia may occur in patients with low potassium reserves or those receiving concomitant medicinal products that may lower potassium levels; periodic electrolyte determinations may be advisable in such patients.
\*\*Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)\*\*
Cases of HLH have been reported in patients treated with piperacillin/tazobactam often following treatment longer than 10 days. HLH is a life-threatening syndrome of pathologic immune activation characterised by clinical signs and symptoms of an excessive systemic inflammation (e.g. fever, hepatosplenomegaly, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypofibrinogenaemia, high serum ferritin, cytopenias and haemophagocytosis). Patients who develop early manifestations of pathologic immune activation should be evaluated immediately. If diagnosis of HLH is established, piperacillin/tazobactam treatment should be discontinued.
\*\*Renal Impairment\*\*
Due to its potential nephrotoxicity (see section 4.8), piperacillin/tazobactam should be used with care in patients with renal impairment or in hemodialysis patients. Intravenous dosages and administration intervals should be adjusted to the degree of renal function impairment (see section 4.2).
In a secondary analysis using data from a large multicenter, randomized-controlled trial when glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was examined after administration of frequently used antibiotics in critically ill patients, the use of piperacillin/tazobactam was associated with a lower rate of reversible GFR improvement compared with the other antibiotics. This secondary analysis concluded that piperacillin/tazobactam was a cause of delayed renal recovery in these patients.
Combined use of piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin may be associated with an increased incidence of acute kidney injury (see section 4.5).
\*Sodium content\*
This medicinal product contains 108 mg sodium per vial, equivalent to 5.4% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
\*\*Non-depolarising muscle relaxants\*\*
Piperacillin when used concomitantly with vecuronium has been implicated in the prolongation of the neuromuscular blockade of vecuronium. Due to their similar mechanisms of action, it is expected that the neuromuscular blockade produced by any of the non-depolarising muscle relaxants could be prolonged in the presence of piperacillin.
\*\*Anticoagulants\*\*
During simultaneous administration of heparin, oral anticoagulants and other substances that may affect the blood coagulation system including thrombocyte function, appropriate coagulation tests should be performed more frequently and monitored regularly.
\*\*Methotrexate\*\*
Piperacillin may reduce the excretion of methotrexate; therefore, serum levels of methotrexate should be monitored in patients to avoid substance toxicity.
\*\*Probenecid\*\*
As with other penicillins, concurrent administration of probenecid and piperacillin/tazobactam produces a longer half-life and lower renal clearance of piperacillin and tazobactam; however, peak plasma concentrations of either substances are unaffected.
\*\*Aminoglycosides\*\*
Piperacillin, either alone or with tazobactam, did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of tobramycin in subjects with normal renal function and with mild or moderate renal impairment. The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin, tazobactam, and the M1 metabolite were also not significantly altered by tobramycin administration.
The inactivation of tobramycin and gentamicin by piperacillin has been demonstrated in patients with severe renal impairment.
For information related to the administration of piperacillin/tazobactam with aminoglycosides please refer to sections 6.2 and 6.6.
\*\*Vancomycin\*\*
Studies have detected an increased incidence of acute kidney injury in patients concomitantly administered piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin as compared to vancomycin alone (see section 4.4). Some of these studies have reported that the interaction is vancomycin dose dependent.
No pharmacokinetic interactions have been noted between piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin.
\*\*Effects on laboratory tests\*\*
Non-enzymatic methods of measuring urinary glucose may lead to false-positive results, as with other penicillins. Therefore, enzymatic urinary glucose measurement is required under Piperacillin/Tazobactam therapy.
A number of chemical urine protein measurement methods may lead to false-positive results. Protein measurement with dip sticks is not affected.
The direct Coombs test may be positive.
Bio-Rad Laboratories \*Platelia Aspergillus\* EIA tests may lead to false-positive results for patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam. Cross-reactions with non-\*Aspergillus\* polysaccharides and polyfuranoses with Bio-Rad Laboratories \*Platelia Aspergillus\* EIA test have been reported.
Positive test results for the assays listed above in patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam should be confirmed by other diagnostic methods.4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
\*\*Pregnancy\*\*
There are no or a limited amount of data from the use of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in pregnant women.
Studies in animals have shown developmental toxicity, but no evidence of teratogenicity, at doses that are maternally toxic (see section 5.3).
Piperacillin and tazobactam cross the placenta. Piperacillin/tazobactam should only be used during pregnancy if clearly indicated, i.e. only if the expected benefit outweighs the possible risks to the pregnant woman and foetus.
\*\*Breast-feeding\*\*
Piperacillin is excreted in low concentrations in human milk; tazobactam concentrations in human milk have not been studied. Women who are breast-feeding should be treated only if the expected benefit outweighs the possible risks to the woman and child.
\*\*Fertility\*\*
A fertility study in rats showed no effect on fertility and mating after intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam (see section 5.3).4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.4.8 Undesirable effects
The most commonly reported adverse reaction is diarrhoea (occurring in 1 patient out of 10).
Among the most serious adverse reactions, pseudo-membranous colitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis occur in 1 to 10 patients in 10,000. The frequencies for pancytopenia, anaphylactic shock and Stevens-Johnson syndrome cannot be estimated from the currently available data.
In the following table, adverse reactions are listed by system organ class and MedDRA-preferred term. Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| \*\*System Organ Class\*\* | \*\*Very common\*\* (≥ 1/10) | \*\*Common\*\* (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10) | \*\*Uncommon\*\* (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100) | \*\*Rare\*\* (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) | \*\*Frequency not known\*\* (cannot be estimated from available data) |
| \*\*Infections and infestations\*\* | | Candida infection\\* | | Pseudo-membranous colitis | |
| \*\*Blood and Lymphatic system disorders\*\* | | Thrombocytopenia,anaemia\\* | Leukopenia | Agranulocytosis | Pancytopenia\\*, neutropenia, haemolytic anaemia\\*, thrombocytosis\\*, eosinophilia\\* |
| \*\*Immune system disorders\*\* | | | | | Anaphylactoid shock\\*, anaphylactic shock\\*, anaphylactoid reaction\\*, anaphylactic reaction\\*, hypersensitivity\\* |
| \*\*Metabolism and nutrition disorders\*\* | | | Hypokalaemia | | |
| \*\*Psychiatric disorders\*\* | | Insomnia | | | Delirium\\* |
| \*\*Nervous system disorders\*\* | | Headache | Seizure\\* | | |
| \*\*Vascular disorders\*\* | | | Hypotension, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, flushing | | |
| \*\*Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders\*\* | | | | Epistaxis | Eosinophilic pneumonia |
| \*\*Gastrointestinal disorders\*\* | Diarrhoea | Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia | | Stomatitis | |
| \*\*Hepatobiliary disorders\*\* | | | | | Hepatitis\\*, jaundice |
| \*\*Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders\*\* | | Rash, pruritus | Erythema multiforme\\*, urticaria, rash maculo-papular\\* | Toxic epidermal necrolysis\\* | Stevens-Johnson syndrome\\*, dermatitis exfoliative, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)\\*, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)\\*, dermatitis bullous, purpura |
| \*\*Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders\*\* | | | Arthralgia, myalgia | | |
| \*\*Renal and urinary disorders\*\* | | | | | Renal failure, tubulointerstitial nephritis\\* |
| \*\*General disorders and administration site conditions\*\* | | Pyrexia, injection site reaction | Chills | | |
| \*\*Investigations\*\* | | Alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, protein total decreased, blood albumin decreased, Coombs direct test positive, blood creatinine increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood urea increased, activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged | Blood glucose decreased, blood bilirubin increased, prothrombin time prolonged | | Bleeding time prolonged, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased |
\\*ADR identified post marketing
Piperacillin therapy has been associated with an increased incidence of fever and rash in cystic fibrosis patients.
\*Beta-lactam antibiotic class effects\*
Beta-lactam antibiotics, including piperacillin tazobactam, may lead to manifestations of encephalopathy and convulsions (see section 4.4).
\*\*Reporting of suspected adverse reactions\*\*
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.4.9 Overdose
\*\*Symptoms\*\*
There have been post-marketing reports of overdose with piperacillin/tazobactam. The majority of those events experienced including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, have also been reported with the usual recommended dose. Patients may experience neuromuscular excitability or convulsions if higher than recommended doses are given intravenously (particularly in the presence of renal failure).
\*\*Treatment\*\*
In the event of an overdose, piperacillin/tazobactam treatment should be discontinued.
No specific antidote is known.
Treatment should be supportive and symptomatic according to the patient's clinical presentation.
Excessive serum concentrations of either piperacillin or tazobactam may be reduced by haemodialysis (see section 4.4).
- Instruction Pharmacology
- 5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, Combinations of penicillins, incl. beta-lactamase inhibitors.
ATC-Code: J01C R05
\*\*Mechanism of action\*\*
Piperacillin, a broad-spectrum, semisynthetic penicillin exerts bactericidal activity by inhibition of both septum and cell-wall synthesis.
Tazobactam, a beta-lactam structurally related to penicillins, is an inhibitor of many beta-lactamases, which commonly cause resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins, but it does not inhibit AmpC enzymes or metallo beta-lactamases. Tazobactam extends the antibiotic spectrum of piperacillin to include many beta-lactamase-producing bacteria that have acquired resistance to piperacillin alone.
\*\*Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic relationship\*\*
The time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (T>MIC) is considered to be the major pharmacodynamic determinant of efficacy for piperacillin.
\*\*Mechanism of resistance\*\*
The two main mechanisms of resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam are:
• inactivation of the piperacillin component by those beta-lactamases that are not inhibited by tazobactam: beta-lactamases in the Molecular class B, C and D. In addition, tazobactam does not provide protection against extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in the Molecular class A and D enzyme groups
• alteration of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which results in the reduction of the affinity of piperacillin for the molecular target in bacteria.
Additionally, alterations in bacterial membrane permeability, as well as expression of multi-drug efflux pumps, may cause or contribute to bacterial resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam, especially in Gram-negative bacteria.
\*\*Breakpoints\*\*
EUCAST Clinical MIC Breakpoints for piperacillin/tazobactam (EUCAST Clinical Breakpoint Table Version 10.0, valid from 2020-01-01). For susceptibility testing purposes, the concentration of tazobactam is fixed at 4 mg/L.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Pathogen\*\* | \*\*Species related breakpoints (S≤/R>), mg/L of piperacillin\*\* |
| Enterobacterales (formerly Enterobacteriaceae) | 8/16 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | <0.001/161 |
| \*Staphylococcus\* species | -2 |
| \*Enterococcus\* species | -3 |
| \*Streptococcus\* Groups A, B, C, and G | -4 |
| \*Streptococcus pneumoniae\* | -5 |
| \*Viridans\* group streptococci | -6 |
| \*Haemophilus influenzae\* | 0.25/0.25 |
| \*Moraxella catarrhalis\* | -7 |
| \*Gram-positive anaerobes (except Clostridioides difficile)\* | 8/16 |
| Gram-negative anaerobes | 8/16 |
| Non-species related (PK/PD) breakpoints | 4/16 |
| 1 For several agents, EUCAST has introduced breakpoints which categorise wild-type organisms (organisms without phenotypically detectable acquired resistance mechanisms to the agent) as "Susceptible, increased exposure (I)" instead of "Susceptible, standard dosing regimen (S)". Susceptible breakpoints for these organism-agent combinations are listed as arbitrary, "off scale" breakpoints of S ≤ 0.001 mg/L. 2 Most staphylococci are penicillinase producers, and some are methicillin resistant. Either mechanism renders them resistant to benzylpenicillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, piperacillin and ticarcillin. Staphylococci that test susceptible to benzylpenicillin and cefoxitin can be reported susceptible to all penicillins. Staphylococci that test resistant to benzylpenicillin but susceptible to cefoxitin are susceptible to β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, the isoxazolylpenicillins (oxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin) and nafcillin. For agents given orally, care to achieve sufficient exposure at the site of the infection should be exercised. Staphylococci that test resistant to cefoxitin are resistant to all penicillins. Ampicillin susceptible \*S. saprophyticus\* are \*mecA\*-negative and susceptible to ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin (without or with a beta-lactamase inhibitor). 3 Susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin (with and without beta-lactamase inhibitor) can be inferred from ampicillin. Ampicillin resistance is uncommon in \*E. faecalis\* (confirm with MIC) but common in \*E. faecium\*. 4 The susceptibility of \*Streptococcus\* groups A, B, C and G to penicillins is inferred from the benzylpenicillin susceptibility with the exception of phenoxymethylpenicillin and isoxazolylpenicillins for Streptococcus group B. \*Streptococcus\* groups A, B, C and G do not produce beta-lactamase. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor does not add clinical benefit. 5 The oxacillin 1 μg disk screen test or a benzylpenicillin MIC test shall be used to exclude beta-lactam resistance mechanisms. When the screen is negative (oxacillin inhibition zone ≥20 mm, or benzylpenicillin MIC ≤0.06 mg/L) all beta-lactam agents for which clinical breakpoints are available, including those with “Note” can be reported susceptible without further testing, except for cefaclor, which if reported, should be reported as “susceptible, increased exposure” (I). \*Streptococcus pneumoniae\* do not produce beta-lactamase. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor does not add clinical benefit. Susceptibility inferred from ampicillin (MIC or zone diameter). 6 For isolates susceptible to benzylpenicillin, susceptibility can be inferred from benzylpenicillin or ampicillin. For isolates resistant to benzylpenicillin, susceptibility is inferred from ampicillin. 7 Susceptibility can be inferred from amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. | |
\*\*Susceptibility\*\*
The prevalence of acquired resistance may vary geographically and with time for selected species and local information on resistance is desirable, particularly when treating severe infections. As necessary, expert advice should be sought when the local prevalence of resistance is such that the utility of the agent in at least some types of infections is questionable.
| |
| --- |
| \*\*Groupings of relevant species according to piperacillin/tazobactam susceptibility\*\* |
| \*\*COMMONLY SUSCEPTIBLE SPECIES\*\* |
| Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Enterococcus faecalis\* (ampicillin- or penicillin-susceptible isolates only) \*Listeria monocytogenes\* \*Staphylococcus aureus\* (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) \*Staphylococcus\* species\*, coagulase negative\* (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) \*Streptococcus agalactiae\* (Group B streptococci)† \*Streptococcus pyogenes\* (Group A streptococci)† |
| Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Citrobacter koseri\* \*Haemophilus influenzae\* \*Moraxella catarrhalis\* \*Proteus mirabilis\* |
| Anaerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Clostridium\* species \*Eubacterium\* species Anaerobic gram-positive cocci†† |
| Anaerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Bacteroides fragilis\* group \*Fusobacterium\* species \*Porphyromonas\* species \*Prevotella\* species |
| \*\*SPECIES FOR WHICH ACQUIRED RESISTANCE MAY BE A PROBLEM\*\* |
| Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Enterococcus faecium\* \*Streptococcus pneumonia\*† \*Streptococcus viridans group\* † |
| Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Acinetobacter baumannii\* \*Citrobacter freundii\* \*Enterobacter\* species \*Escherichia coli\* \*Klebsiella pneumoniae\* \*Morganella morganii\* \*Proteus vulgaris\* \*Providencia ssp.\* \*Pseudomonas aeruginosa\* \*Serratia\* species |
| \*\*INHERENTLY RESISTANT ORGANISMS\*\* |
| Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Corynebacterium jeikeium\* |
| Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Burkholderia cepacia\* \*Legionella\* species \*Ochrobactrum anthropi\* \*Stenotrophomonas maltophilia\* |
| Other microorganisms \*Chlamydophilia pneumoniae\* \*Mycoplasma pneumoniae\* |
| † Streptococci are not β-lactamase producing bacteria; resistance in these organisms is due to alterations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and, therefore, susceptible isolates are susceptible to piperacillin alone. Penicillin resistance has not been reported in \*S. pyogenes.\* †† Including \*Anaerococcus\*, \*Finegoldia\*, \*Parvimonas\*, \*Peptoniphilus\*, and \*Peptostreptococcus\* spp. |
\*\*Merino Trial (blood stream infections due to ESBL producers)\*\*
In a prospective, non-inferiority, parallel-group, published randomized clinical trial, definitive (i.e. based on susceptibility confirmed in-vitro) treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam, compared with meropenem, did not result in a non-inferior 30-day mortality in adult patients with ceftriaxone-non-susceptible \*E. coli\* or \*K. pneumoniae\* blood stream infections.
A total of 23 of 187 patients (12.3%) randomized to piperacillin/tazobactam met the primary outcome of mortality at 30 days compared with 7 of 191 (3.7%) randomized to meropenem (risk difference, 8.6% [1-sided 97.5% CI − ∞ to 14.5%]; P = 0.90 for non-inferiority). The difference did not meet the non-inferiority margin of 5%.
Effects were consistent in an analysis of the per-protocol population, with 18 of 170 patients (10.6%) meeting the primary outcome in a piperacillin/tazobactam group compared with 7 of 186 (3.8%) in the meropenem group (risk difference, 6.8% [one-sided 97.5% CI, - ∞ to 12.8%]; P = 0.76 for non-inferiority).
Clinical and microbiological resolution (secondary outcomes) by day 4 occurred in 121 of 177 patients (68.4%) in the piperacillin/tazobactam group compared with 138 of 185 (74.6%), randomized to meropenem (risk difference, 6.2% [95% CI − 15.5 to 3.1%]; P = 0.19). For secondary outcomes, statistical tests were 2-sided, with a P <0.05 considered significant.
In this trial, a mortality imbalance between study groups was found. It was supposed that deaths occurred in piperacillin/tazobactam group were related to underlying diseases rather than to the concomitant infection.5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
\*\*Absorption\*\*
The peak piperacillin and tazobactam concentrations after 4 g/0.5 g administered over 30 minutes by intravenous infusion are 298 μg/ml and 34 μg/ml respectively.
\*\*Distribution\*\*
Both piperacillin and tazobactam are approximately 30% bound to plasma proteins. The protein binding of piperacillin or tazobactam is unaffected by the presence of the other compound.
Protein binding of the tazobactam metabolite is negligible.
Piperacillin/tazobactam is widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, including intestinal mucosa, gallbladder, lungs, bile and bone. Mean tissue concentrations are generally 50-100% of those in plasma. Distribution into cerebrospinal fluid is low in subjects with non-inflamed meninges, as with other penicillins.
\*\*Biotransformation\*\*
Piperacillin is metabolised to a minor microbiologically active desethyl-metabolite. Tazobactam is metabolised to a single metabolite that has been found to be microbiologically inactive.
\*\*Elimination\*\*
Piperacillin and tazobactam are eliminated via the kidneys by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.
Piperacillin is excreted rapidly as unchanged substance with 68% of the administered dose appearing in the urine. Tazobactam and its metabolite are eliminated primarily by renal excretion, with 80 % of the administered dose appearing as unchanged substance and the remainder as the single metabolite. Piperacillin, tazobactam and desethyl piperacillin are also secreted in the bile.
Following single or multiple doses of piperacillin/tazobactam to healthy subjects, the plasma half-life of piperacillin and tazobactam ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 hours and was unaffected by dose or duration of infusion. The elimination half-lives of both piperacillin and tazobactam are increased with decreasing renal clearance.
There are no significant changes in piperacillin pharmacokinetics due to tazobactam. Piperacillin appears to slightly reduce the clearance of tazobactam.
\*\*Special\*\* \*\*populations\*\*
The half-life of piperacillin and of tazobactam increases by approximately 25% and 18%, respectively, in patients with hepatic cirrhosis compared to healthy subjects.
The half-life of piperacillin and tazobactam increases with decreasing creatinine clearance. The increase in half-life is two-fold and four-fold for piperacillin and tazobactam, respectively, at creatinine clearance below 20 ml/min compared to patients with normal renal function.
Haemodialysis removes 30% to 50% of piperacillin/tazobactam, with an additional 5% of the tazobactam dose removed as the tazobactam metabolite. Peritoneal dialysis removes approximately 6% and 21% of the piperacillin and tazobactam doses, respectively, with up to 18% of the tazobactam dose removed as the tazobactam metabolite.
\*Paediatric population\*
In a population PK analysis, estimated clearance for 9 month-old to 12 year-old patients was comparable to adults, with a population mean (SE) value of 5.64 (0.34) ml/min/kg. The piperacillin clearance estimate is 80% of this value for paediatric patients 2-9 months of age. The population mean (SE) for piperacillin volume of distribution is 0.243 (0.011) l/kg and is independent of age.
\*Elderly patients\*
The mean half-life for piperacillin and tazobactam were 32% and 55% longer, respectively, in the elderly compared with younger subjects. This difference may be due to age-related changes in creatinine clearance.
\*Race\*
No difference in piperacillin or tazobactam pharmacokinetics was observed between Asian (n=9) and Caucasian (n=9) healthy volunteers who received single 4 g/0.5 g doses.5.3 Preclinical safety data
Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of repeated dose toxicity and genotoxicity. Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with piperacillin/tazobactam.
A fertility and general reproduction study in rats using intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam reported a decrease in litter size and an increase of foetuses with ossification delays and variations of ribs, concurrent with maternal toxicity. Fertility of the F1 generation and embryonic development of F2 generation were not impaired.
Teratogenicity studies using intravenous administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam in mice and rats resulted in slight reductions in rat fetal weights at maternally toxic doses but did not show teratogenic effects.
Peri/postnatal development was impaired (reduced pup weights, increase in stillbirths, increase in pup mortality) concurrent with maternal toxicity after intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam in the rat.
- Instruction Pharmaceutical Particulars
- 6.1 List of excipients
None6.2 Incompatibilities
This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.
Whenever Piperacillin/Tazobactam is used concurrently with another antibiotic (e.g. aminoglycosides), the substances must be administered separately. The mixing of beta-lactam antibiotics with an aminoglycoside \*in vitro\* can result in substantial inactivation of the aminoglycoside.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be mixed with other substances in a syringe or infusion bottle since compatibility has not been established.
Lactated Ringer's solution is not compatible with Piperacillin/Tazobactam.
Due to chemical instability, Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be used in solutions containing only sodium bicarbonate.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be added to blood products or albumin hydrolysates.6.3 Shelf life
Unopened vial: 3 years.
\*\*\*Reconstituted/Diluted solution\*\*\*
When prepared under aseptic conditions chemical and physical in use stability has been demonstrated for 5 hours at 20-25°C and for 24 hours at 2-8°C.
From the microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately.
If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user.6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package.
For storage conditions after reconstitution/dilution of the medicinal product see section 6.3.
Unused solutions should be discarded\*\*.\*\*6.5 Nature and contents of container
Clear type 1 glass vial with a bromo or chloro-butyl rubber stopper and an aluminium flip-off seal.
\*Pack sizes:\*
1 x 1 vial containing powder for solution for infusion
10 x 1 vial containing powder for solution for infusion
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling
The reconstitution and dilution are to be made under aseptic conditions. The solution is to be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. The solution should only be used if the solution is clear and free from particles.
\*\*Intravenous use\*\*
Reconstitute each vial with the volume of solvent shown in the table below, using one of the compatible solvents for reconstitution. Swirl until dissolved. When swirled constantly, reconstitution generally occurs within 5 to 8 minutes (for details on handling, please see below).
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Content of vial\*\* | \*\*Volume of solvent\\* to be added to vial\*\* |
| 2 g/0.25 g (2 g piperacillin and 0.25 g tazobactam) | 10 ml |
\*\*\\* Compatible solvents for reconstitution/dilution:\*\*
- Sterile water for injection (1)
- Sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection
- Glucose solution 5 mg/ml (5%)
(1) Maximum recommended volume of sterile water for injection per dose is 50 ml.
The reconstituted solutions should be withdrawn from the vial by syringe. When reconstituted as directed, the vial contents withdrawn by syringe will provide the labelled amount of piperacillin and tazobactam.
The reconstituted solutions can be further diluted to the desired volume (e.g. 50 ml to 150 ml) with one of the following compatible solvents:
- Glucose solution 5 mg/ml (5%)
- Sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for infusion
\*\*Co-administration with aminoglycosides\*\*
Due to the \*in vitro\* inactivation of the aminoglycoside by beta-lactam antibiotics, Piperacillin/Tazobactam and the aminoglycoside are recommended for separate administration. Piperacillin/Tazobactam and the aminoglycoside should be reconstituted and diluted separately when concomitant therapy with aminoglycosides is indicated.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
For single use only. Discard any unused solution.
- Instruction Content
- ## Composition
Each vial contains piperacillin (as sodium salt) equivalent to 2 g and tazobactam (as sodium salt) equivalent to 0.25 g.
Each vial contains 4.70 mmol (108 mg) of sodium.
## Pharmaceutical Form
Powder for solution for infusion.
White to off-white powder.
## Clinical Particulars
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Piperacillin/Tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g Powder for Solution for Infusion is indicated for treatment of the following infections in adults and children over 2 years of age (see sections 4.2 and 5.1):
\*\*Adults and adolescents\*\*
• Severe pneumonia including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia
• Complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis)
• Complicated intra-abdominal infections
• Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (including diabetic foot infections)
Treatment of patients with bacteraemia that occurs in association with, or is suspected to be associated with any of the infections listed above.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam may be used in the management of neutropenic patients with fever suspected to be due to a bacterial infection.
Note: Use for bacteraemia due to extended-beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing \*E. coli\* and \*K. pneumoniae\* (ceftriaxone non-susceptible), is not recommended in adult patients, see section 5.1.
\*\*Children aged 2-12 years\*\*
• Complicated intra-abdominal infections
Piperacillin/Tazobactam may be used in the management of neutropenic children with fever suspected to be due to a bacterial infection.
Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of anti-bacterial agents.4.2 Posology and method of administration
\*\*Posology\*\*
The dose and frequency of Piperacillin/Tazobactam depends on the severity and localisation of the infection and expected pathogens.
\*Adult and adolescent patients\*
\*\*\*Infections\*\*\*
The usual dose is 4 g piperacillin/0.5 g tazobactam given every 8 hours.
For nosocomial pneumonia and bacterial infections in neutropenic patients, the recommended dose is 4 g piperacillin/0.5 g tazobactam administered every 6 hours. This regimen may also be applicable to treat patients with other indicated infections when particularly severe.
The following table summarises the treatment frequency and the recommended dose for adult and adolescent patients by indication or condition:
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Treatment frequency\*\* | \*\*Piperacillin/Tazobactam 4 g/0.5 g\*\* |
| Every 6 hours | Severe pneumonia |
| Neutropenic adults with fever suspected to be due to a bacterial infection |
| Every 8 hours | Complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis) |
| Complicated intra-abdominal infections |
| Skin and soft tissue infections (including diabetic foot infections) |
\*\*\*Patients with renal\*\*\* \*\*\*impairment\*\*\*
The intravenous dose should be adjusted to the degree of actual renal impairment as follows (each patient must be monitored closely for signs of substance toxicity; medicinal product dose and interval should be adjusted accordingly).
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Creatinine clearance (ml/min)\*\* | \*\*Piperacillin/Tazobactam (recommended dose)\*\* |
| > 40 | No dose adjustment necessary |
| 20-40 | Maximum dose suggested: 4 g/0.5 g every 8 hours |
| < 20 | Maximum dose suggested: 4 g/0.5 g every 12 hours |
For patients on haemodialysis, one additional dose of piperacillin/tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g should be administered following each dialysis period, because haemodialysis removes 30%-50% of piperacillin in 4 hours.
\*\*\*Patients with hepatic\*\*\* \*\*\*impairment\*\*\*
No dose adjustment is necessary (see section 5.2).
\*\*\*Elderly patients\*\*\*
No dose adjustment is required for the elderly with normal renal function or creatinine clearance values above 40 ml/min.
\*Paediatric population (2-12 years of age)\*
\*\*\*Infections\*\*\*
The following table summarises the treatment frequency and the dose per body weight for paediatric patients 2-12 years of age by indication or condition.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Dose per weight and treatment frequency\*\* | \*\*Indication/condition\*\* |
| 80 mg Piperacillin/10 mg Tazobactam per kg body weight/every 6 hours | Neutropenic children with fever suspected to be due to bacterial infections\\* |
| 100 mg Piperacillin/12.5 mg Tazobactam per kg body weight/every 8 hours | Complicated intra-abdominal infections\\* |
\\* Not to exceed the maximum 4 g/0.5 g per dose over 30 minutes.
\*\*\*Patients with\*\*\* \*\*\*renal impairment\*\*\*
The intravenous dose should be adjusted to the degree of actual renal impairment as follows (each patient must be monitored closely for signs of substance toxicity; medicinal product dose and interval should be adjusted accordingly):
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Creatinine clearance\*\* \*\*(ml/min)\*\* | \*\*Piperacillin/Tazobactam (recommended dose)\*\* |
| > 50 | No dose adjustment necessary |
| ≤ 50 | 70 mg piperacillin/8.75 mg tazobactam/kg every 8 hours |
For children on haemodialysis, one additional dose of 40 mg piperacillin/5 mg tazobactam/kg should be administered following each dialysis period.
\*\*\*Use in children aged below 2 years\*\*\*
The safety and efficacy of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in children 0- 2 years of age has not been established. No data from controlled clinical studies are available.
\*\*Treatment duration\*\*
The usual duration of treatment for most indications is in the range of 5-14 days. However, the duration of treatment should be guided by the severity of the infection, the pathogen(s) and the patient's clinical and bacteriological progress.
\*\*Method of administration\*\*
Piperacillin/Tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g is administered by intravenous infusion (over 30 minutes).
For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substances or any other penicillin-antibacterial agent.
History of acute severe allergic reaction to any other beta-lactam active substances (e.g. cephalosporin, monobactam or carbapenem).4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
The selection of piperacillin/tazobactam to treat an individual patient should take into account the appropriateness of using a broad-spectrum semi-synthetic penicillin based on factors such as the severity of the infection and the prevalence of resistance to other suitable antibacterial agents.
Before initiating therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, other beta-lactam agents (e.g cephalosporins, monobactam or carbapenem) and other allergens. Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic/anaphylactoid [including shock]) reactions have been reported in patients receiving therapy with penicillins, including piperacillin/tazobactam. These reactions are more likely to occur in persons with a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. Serious hypersensitivity reactions require the discontinuation of the antibiotic, and may require administration of epinephrine and other emergency measures.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam may cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (see section 4.8). If patients develop a skin rash they should be monitored closely and Piperacillin/Tazobactam discontinued if lesions progress.
Antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis may be manifested by severe, persistent diarrhoea which may be life-threatening. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibacterial treatment. In these cases Piperacillin/Tazobactam, should be discontinued.
Therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam may result in the emergence of resistant organisms, which might cause superinfections.
Bleeding manifestations have occurred in some patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics. These reactions sometimes have been associated with abnormalities of coagulation tests, such as clotting time, platelet aggregation and prothrombin time, and are more likely to occur in patients with renal failure. If bleeding manifestations occur, the antibiotic should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.
Leukopenia and neutropenia may occur, especially during prolonged therapy, therefore, periodic assessment of haematopoietic function should be performed.
As with treatment with other penicillins, neurological complications in the form of convulsions (seizures) may occur when high doses are administered, especially in patients with impaired renal function (see section 4.8).
Hypokalaemia may occur in patients with low potassium reserves or those receiving concomitant medicinal products that may lower potassium levels; periodic electrolyte determinations may be advisable in such patients.
\*\*Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)\*\*
Cases of HLH have been reported in patients treated with piperacillin/tazobactam often following treatment longer than 10 days. HLH is a life-threatening syndrome of pathologic immune activation characterised by clinical signs and symptoms of an excessive systemic inflammation (e.g. fever, hepatosplenomegaly, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypofibrinogenaemia, high serum ferritin, cytopenias and haemophagocytosis). Patients who develop early manifestations of pathologic immune activation should be evaluated immediately. If diagnosis of HLH is established, piperacillin/tazobactam treatment should be discontinued.
\*\*Renal Impairment\*\*
Due to its potential nephrotoxicity (see section 4.8), piperacillin/tazobactam should be used with care in patients with renal impairment or in hemodialysis patients. Intravenous dosages and administration intervals should be adjusted to the degree of renal function impairment (see section 4.2).
In a secondary analysis using data from a large multicenter, randomized-controlled trial when glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was examined after administration of frequently used antibiotics in critically ill patients, the use of piperacillin/tazobactam was associated with a lower rate of reversible GFR improvement compared with the other antibiotics. This secondary analysis concluded that piperacillin/tazobactam was a cause of delayed renal recovery in these patients.
Combined use of piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin may be associated with an increased incidence of acute kidney injury (see section 4.5).
\*Sodium content\*
This medicinal product contains 108 mg sodium per vial, equivalent to 5.4% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
\*\*Non-depolarising muscle relaxants\*\*
Piperacillin when used concomitantly with vecuronium has been implicated in the prolongation of the neuromuscular blockade of vecuronium. Due to their similar mechanisms of action, it is expected that the neuromuscular blockade produced by any of the non-depolarising muscle relaxants could be prolonged in the presence of piperacillin.
\*\*Anticoagulants\*\*
During simultaneous administration of heparin, oral anticoagulants and other substances that may affect the blood coagulation system including thrombocyte function, appropriate coagulation tests should be performed more frequently and monitored regularly.
\*\*Methotrexate\*\*
Piperacillin may reduce the excretion of methotrexate; therefore, serum levels of methotrexate should be monitored in patients to avoid substance toxicity.
\*\*Probenecid\*\*
As with other penicillins, concurrent administration of probenecid and piperacillin/tazobactam produces a longer half-life and lower renal clearance of piperacillin and tazobactam; however, peak plasma concentrations of either substances are unaffected.
\*\*Aminoglycosides\*\*
Piperacillin, either alone or with tazobactam, did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of tobramycin in subjects with normal renal function and with mild or moderate renal impairment. The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin, tazobactam, and the M1 metabolite were also not significantly altered by tobramycin administration.
The inactivation of tobramycin and gentamicin by piperacillin has been demonstrated in patients with severe renal impairment.
For information related to the administration of piperacillin/tazobactam with aminoglycosides please refer to sections 6.2 and 6.6.
\*\*Vancomycin\*\*
Studies have detected an increased incidence of acute kidney injury in patients concomitantly administered piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin as compared to vancomycin alone (see section 4.4). Some of these studies have reported that the interaction is vancomycin dose dependent.
No pharmacokinetic interactions have been noted between piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin.
\*\*Effects on laboratory tests\*\*
Non-enzymatic methods of measuring urinary glucose may lead to false-positive results, as with other penicillins. Therefore, enzymatic urinary glucose measurement is required under Piperacillin/Tazobactam therapy.
A number of chemical urine protein measurement methods may lead to false-positive results. Protein measurement with dip sticks is not affected.
The direct Coombs test may be positive.
Bio-Rad Laboratories \*Platelia Aspergillus\* EIA tests may lead to false-positive results for patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam. Cross-reactions with non-\*Aspergillus\* polysaccharides and polyfuranoses with Bio-Rad Laboratories \*Platelia Aspergillus\* EIA test have been reported.
Positive test results for the assays listed above in patients receiving Piperacillin/Tazobactam should be confirmed by other diagnostic methods.4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
\*\*Pregnancy\*\*
There are no or a limited amount of data from the use of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in pregnant women.
Studies in animals have shown developmental toxicity, but no evidence of teratogenicity, at doses that are maternally toxic (see section 5.3).
Piperacillin and tazobactam cross the placenta. Piperacillin/tazobactam should only be used during pregnancy if clearly indicated, i.e. only if the expected benefit outweighs the possible risks to the pregnant woman and foetus.
\*\*Breast-feeding\*\*
Piperacillin is excreted in low concentrations in human milk; tazobactam concentrations in human milk have not been studied. Women who are breast-feeding should be treated only if the expected benefit outweighs the possible risks to the woman and child.
\*\*Fertility\*\*
A fertility study in rats showed no effect on fertility and mating after intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam (see section 5.3).4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.4.8 Undesirable effects
The most commonly reported adverse reaction is diarrhoea (occurring in 1 patient out of 10).
Among the most serious adverse reactions, pseudo-membranous colitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis occur in 1 to 10 patients in 10,000. The frequencies for pancytopenia, anaphylactic shock and Stevens-Johnson syndrome cannot be estimated from the currently available data.
In the following table, adverse reactions are listed by system organ class and MedDRA-preferred term. Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| \*\*System Organ Class\*\* | \*\*Very common\*\* (≥ 1/10) | \*\*Common\*\* (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10) | \*\*Uncommon\*\* (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100) | \*\*Rare\*\* (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) | \*\*Frequency not known\*\* (cannot be estimated from available data) |
| \*\*Infections and infestations\*\* | | Candida infection\\* | | Pseudo-membranous colitis | |
| \*\*Blood and Lymphatic system disorders\*\* | | Thrombocytopenia,anaemia\\* | Leukopenia | Agranulocytosis | Pancytopenia\\*, neutropenia, haemolytic anaemia\\*, thrombocytosis\\*, eosinophilia\\* |
| \*\*Immune system disorders\*\* | | | | | Anaphylactoid shock\\*, anaphylactic shock\\*, anaphylactoid reaction\\*, anaphylactic reaction\\*, hypersensitivity\\* |
| \*\*Metabolism and nutrition disorders\*\* | | | Hypokalaemia | | |
| \*\*Psychiatric disorders\*\* | | Insomnia | | | Delirium\\* |
| \*\*Nervous system disorders\*\* | | Headache | Seizure\\* | | |
| \*\*Vascular disorders\*\* | | | Hypotension, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, flushing | | |
| \*\*Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders\*\* | | | | Epistaxis | Eosinophilic pneumonia |
| \*\*Gastrointestinal disorders\*\* | Diarrhoea | Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia | | Stomatitis | |
| \*\*Hepatobiliary disorders\*\* | | | | | Hepatitis\\*, jaundice |
| \*\*Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders\*\* | | Rash, pruritus | Erythema multiforme\\*, urticaria, rash maculo-papular\\* | Toxic epidermal necrolysis\\* | Stevens-Johnson syndrome\\*, dermatitis exfoliative, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)\\*, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)\\*, dermatitis bullous, purpura |
| \*\*Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders\*\* | | | Arthralgia, myalgia | | |
| \*\*Renal and urinary disorders\*\* | | | | | Renal failure, tubulointerstitial nephritis\\* |
| \*\*General disorders and administration site conditions\*\* | | Pyrexia, injection site reaction | Chills | | |
| \*\*Investigations\*\* | | Alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, protein total decreased, blood albumin decreased, Coombs direct test positive, blood creatinine increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood urea increased, activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged | Blood glucose decreased, blood bilirubin increased, prothrombin time prolonged | | Bleeding time prolonged, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased |
\\*ADR identified post marketing
Piperacillin therapy has been associated with an increased incidence of fever and rash in cystic fibrosis patients.
\*Beta-lactam antibiotic class effects\*
Beta-lactam antibiotics, including piperacillin tazobactam, may lead to manifestations of encephalopathy and convulsions (see section 4.4).
\*\*Reporting of suspected adverse reactions\*\*
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.4.9 Overdose
\*\*Symptoms\*\*
There have been post-marketing reports of overdose with piperacillin/tazobactam. The majority of those events experienced including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, have also been reported with the usual recommended dose. Patients may experience neuromuscular excitability or convulsions if higher than recommended doses are given intravenously (particularly in the presence of renal failure).
\*\*Treatment\*\*
In the event of an overdose, piperacillin/tazobactam treatment should be discontinued.
No specific antidote is known.
Treatment should be supportive and symptomatic according to the patient's clinical presentation.
Excessive serum concentrations of either piperacillin or tazobactam may be reduced by haemodialysis (see section 4.4).
## Pharmacological Properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, Combinations of penicillins, incl. beta-lactamase inhibitors.
ATC-Code: J01C R05
\*\*Mechanism of action\*\*
Piperacillin, a broad-spectrum, semisynthetic penicillin exerts bactericidal activity by inhibition of both septum and cell-wall synthesis.
Tazobactam, a beta-lactam structurally related to penicillins, is an inhibitor of many beta-lactamases, which commonly cause resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins, but it does not inhibit AmpC enzymes or metallo beta-lactamases. Tazobactam extends the antibiotic spectrum of piperacillin to include many beta-lactamase-producing bacteria that have acquired resistance to piperacillin alone.
\*\*Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic relationship\*\*
The time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (T>MIC) is considered to be the major pharmacodynamic determinant of efficacy for piperacillin.
\*\*Mechanism of resistance\*\*
The two main mechanisms of resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam are:
• inactivation of the piperacillin component by those beta-lactamases that are not inhibited by tazobactam: beta-lactamases in the Molecular class B, C and D. In addition, tazobactam does not provide protection against extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in the Molecular class A and D enzyme groups
• alteration of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which results in the reduction of the affinity of piperacillin for the molecular target in bacteria.
Additionally, alterations in bacterial membrane permeability, as well as expression of multi-drug efflux pumps, may cause or contribute to bacterial resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam, especially in Gram-negative bacteria.
\*\*Breakpoints\*\*
EUCAST Clinical MIC Breakpoints for piperacillin/tazobactam (EUCAST Clinical Breakpoint Table Version 10.0, valid from 2020-01-01). For susceptibility testing purposes, the concentration of tazobactam is fixed at 4 mg/L.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Pathogen\*\* | \*\*Species related breakpoints (S≤/R>), mg/L of piperacillin\*\* |
| Enterobacterales (formerly Enterobacteriaceae) | 8/16 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | <0.001/161 |
| \*Staphylococcus\* species | -2 |
| \*Enterococcus\* species | -3 |
| \*Streptococcus\* Groups A, B, C, and G | -4 |
| \*Streptococcus pneumoniae\* | -5 |
| \*Viridans\* group streptococci | -6 |
| \*Haemophilus influenzae\* | 0.25/0.25 |
| \*Moraxella catarrhalis\* | -7 |
| \*Gram-positive anaerobes (except Clostridioides difficile)\* | 8/16 |
| Gram-negative anaerobes | 8/16 |
| Non-species related (PK/PD) breakpoints | 4/16 |
| 1 For several agents, EUCAST has introduced breakpoints which categorise wild-type organisms (organisms without phenotypically detectable acquired resistance mechanisms to the agent) as "Susceptible, increased exposure (I)" instead of "Susceptible, standard dosing regimen (S)". Susceptible breakpoints for these organism-agent combinations are listed as arbitrary, "off scale" breakpoints of S ≤ 0.001 mg/L. 2 Most staphylococci are penicillinase producers, and some are methicillin resistant. Either mechanism renders them resistant to benzylpenicillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, piperacillin and ticarcillin. Staphylococci that test susceptible to benzylpenicillin and cefoxitin can be reported susceptible to all penicillins. Staphylococci that test resistant to benzylpenicillin but susceptible to cefoxitin are susceptible to β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, the isoxazolylpenicillins (oxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin) and nafcillin. For agents given orally, care to achieve sufficient exposure at the site of the infection should be exercised. Staphylococci that test resistant to cefoxitin are resistant to all penicillins. Ampicillin susceptible \*S. saprophyticus\* are \*mecA\*-negative and susceptible to ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin (without or with a beta-lactamase inhibitor). 3 Susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin (with and without beta-lactamase inhibitor) can be inferred from ampicillin. Ampicillin resistance is uncommon in \*E. faecalis\* (confirm with MIC) but common in \*E. faecium\*. 4 The susceptibility of \*Streptococcus\* groups A, B, C and G to penicillins is inferred from the benzylpenicillin susceptibility with the exception of phenoxymethylpenicillin and isoxazolylpenicillins for Streptococcus group B. \*Streptococcus\* groups A, B, C and G do not produce beta-lactamase. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor does not add clinical benefit. 5 The oxacillin 1 μg disk screen test or a benzylpenicillin MIC test shall be used to exclude beta-lactam resistance mechanisms. When the screen is negative (oxacillin inhibition zone ≥20 mm, or benzylpenicillin MIC ≤0.06 mg/L) all beta-lactam agents for which clinical breakpoints are available, including those with “Note” can be reported susceptible without further testing, except for cefaclor, which if reported, should be reported as “susceptible, increased exposure” (I). \*Streptococcus pneumoniae\* do not produce beta-lactamase. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor does not add clinical benefit. Susceptibility inferred from ampicillin (MIC or zone diameter). 6 For isolates susceptible to benzylpenicillin, susceptibility can be inferred from benzylpenicillin or ampicillin. For isolates resistant to benzylpenicillin, susceptibility is inferred from ampicillin. 7 Susceptibility can be inferred from amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. | |
\*\*Susceptibility\*\*
The prevalence of acquired resistance may vary geographically and with time for selected species and local information on resistance is desirable, particularly when treating severe infections. As necessary, expert advice should be sought when the local prevalence of resistance is such that the utility of the agent in at least some types of infections is questionable.
| |
| --- |
| \*\*Groupings of relevant species according to piperacillin/tazobactam susceptibility\*\* |
| \*\*COMMONLY SUSCEPTIBLE SPECIES\*\* |
| Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Enterococcus faecalis\* (ampicillin- or penicillin-susceptible isolates only) \*Listeria monocytogenes\* \*Staphylococcus aureus\* (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) \*Staphylococcus\* species\*, coagulase negative\* (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) \*Streptococcus agalactiae\* (Group B streptococci)† \*Streptococcus pyogenes\* (Group A streptococci)† |
| Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Citrobacter koseri\* \*Haemophilus influenzae\* \*Moraxella catarrhalis\* \*Proteus mirabilis\* |
| Anaerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Clostridium\* species \*Eubacterium\* species Anaerobic gram-positive cocci†† |
| Anaerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Bacteroides fragilis\* group \*Fusobacterium\* species \*Porphyromonas\* species \*Prevotella\* species |
| \*\*SPECIES FOR WHICH ACQUIRED RESISTANCE MAY BE A PROBLEM\*\* |
| Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Enterococcus faecium\* \*Streptococcus pneumonia\*† \*Streptococcus viridans group\* † |
| Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Acinetobacter baumannii\* \*Citrobacter freundii\* \*Enterobacter\* species \*Escherichia coli\* \*Klebsiella pneumoniae\* \*Morganella morganii\* \*Proteus vulgaris\* \*Providencia ssp.\* \*Pseudomonas aeruginosa\* \*Serratia\* species |
| \*\*INHERENTLY RESISTANT ORGANISMS\*\* |
| Aerobic Gram-positive micro-organisms \*Corynebacterium jeikeium\* |
| Aerobic Gram-negative micro-organisms \*Burkholderia cepacia\* \*Legionella\* species \*Ochrobactrum anthropi\* \*Stenotrophomonas maltophilia\* |
| Other microorganisms \*Chlamydophilia pneumoniae\* \*Mycoplasma pneumoniae\* |
| † Streptococci are not β-lactamase producing bacteria; resistance in these organisms is due to alterations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and, therefore, susceptible isolates are susceptible to piperacillin alone. Penicillin resistance has not been reported in \*S. pyogenes.\* †† Including \*Anaerococcus\*, \*Finegoldia\*, \*Parvimonas\*, \*Peptoniphilus\*, and \*Peptostreptococcus\* spp. |
\*\*Merino Trial (blood stream infections due to ESBL producers)\*\*
In a prospective, non-inferiority, parallel-group, published randomized clinical trial, definitive (i.e. based on susceptibility confirmed in-vitro) treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam, compared with meropenem, did not result in a non-inferior 30-day mortality in adult patients with ceftriaxone-non-susceptible \*E. coli\* or \*K. pneumoniae\* blood stream infections.
A total of 23 of 187 patients (12.3%) randomized to piperacillin/tazobactam met the primary outcome of mortality at 30 days compared with 7 of 191 (3.7%) randomized to meropenem (risk difference, 8.6% [1-sided 97.5% CI − ∞ to 14.5%]; P = 0.90 for non-inferiority). The difference did not meet the non-inferiority margin of 5%.
Effects were consistent in an analysis of the per-protocol population, with 18 of 170 patients (10.6%) meeting the primary outcome in a piperacillin/tazobactam group compared with 7 of 186 (3.8%) in the meropenem group (risk difference, 6.8% [one-sided 97.5% CI, - ∞ to 12.8%]; P = 0.76 for non-inferiority).
Clinical and microbiological resolution (secondary outcomes) by day 4 occurred in 121 of 177 patients (68.4%) in the piperacillin/tazobactam group compared with 138 of 185 (74.6%), randomized to meropenem (risk difference, 6.2% [95% CI − 15.5 to 3.1%]; P = 0.19). For secondary outcomes, statistical tests were 2-sided, with a P <0.05 considered significant.
In this trial, a mortality imbalance between study groups was found. It was supposed that deaths occurred in piperacillin/tazobactam group were related to underlying diseases rather than to the concomitant infection.5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
\*\*Absorption\*\*
The peak piperacillin and tazobactam concentrations after 4 g/0.5 g administered over 30 minutes by intravenous infusion are 298 μg/ml and 34 μg/ml respectively.
\*\*Distribution\*\*
Both piperacillin and tazobactam are approximately 30% bound to plasma proteins. The protein binding of piperacillin or tazobactam is unaffected by the presence of the other compound.
Protein binding of the tazobactam metabolite is negligible.
Piperacillin/tazobactam is widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, including intestinal mucosa, gallbladder, lungs, bile and bone. Mean tissue concentrations are generally 50-100% of those in plasma. Distribution into cerebrospinal fluid is low in subjects with non-inflamed meninges, as with other penicillins.
\*\*Biotransformation\*\*
Piperacillin is metabolised to a minor microbiologically active desethyl-metabolite. Tazobactam is metabolised to a single metabolite that has been found to be microbiologically inactive.
\*\*Elimination\*\*
Piperacillin and tazobactam are eliminated via the kidneys by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.
Piperacillin is excreted rapidly as unchanged substance with 68% of the administered dose appearing in the urine. Tazobactam and its metabolite are eliminated primarily by renal excretion, with 80 % of the administered dose appearing as unchanged substance and the remainder as the single metabolite. Piperacillin, tazobactam and desethyl piperacillin are also secreted in the bile.
Following single or multiple doses of piperacillin/tazobactam to healthy subjects, the plasma half-life of piperacillin and tazobactam ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 hours and was unaffected by dose or duration of infusion. The elimination half-lives of both piperacillin and tazobactam are increased with decreasing renal clearance.
There are no significant changes in piperacillin pharmacokinetics due to tazobactam. Piperacillin appears to slightly reduce the clearance of tazobactam.
\*\*Special\*\* \*\*populations\*\*
The half-life of piperacillin and of tazobactam increases by approximately 25% and 18%, respectively, in patients with hepatic cirrhosis compared to healthy subjects.
The half-life of piperacillin and tazobactam increases with decreasing creatinine clearance. The increase in half-life is two-fold and four-fold for piperacillin and tazobactam, respectively, at creatinine clearance below 20 ml/min compared to patients with normal renal function.
Haemodialysis removes 30% to 50% of piperacillin/tazobactam, with an additional 5% of the tazobactam dose removed as the tazobactam metabolite. Peritoneal dialysis removes approximately 6% and 21% of the piperacillin and tazobactam doses, respectively, with up to 18% of the tazobactam dose removed as the tazobactam metabolite.
\*Paediatric population\*
In a population PK analysis, estimated clearance for 9 month-old to 12 year-old patients was comparable to adults, with a population mean (SE) value of 5.64 (0.34) ml/min/kg. The piperacillin clearance estimate is 80% of this value for paediatric patients 2-9 months of age. The population mean (SE) for piperacillin volume of distribution is 0.243 (0.011) l/kg and is independent of age.
\*Elderly patients\*
The mean half-life for piperacillin and tazobactam were 32% and 55% longer, respectively, in the elderly compared with younger subjects. This difference may be due to age-related changes in creatinine clearance.
\*Race\*
No difference in piperacillin or tazobactam pharmacokinetics was observed between Asian (n=9) and Caucasian (n=9) healthy volunteers who received single 4 g/0.5 g doses.5.3 Preclinical safety data
Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of repeated dose toxicity and genotoxicity. Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with piperacillin/tazobactam.
A fertility and general reproduction study in rats using intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam reported a decrease in litter size and an increase of foetuses with ossification delays and variations of ribs, concurrent with maternal toxicity. Fertility of the F1 generation and embryonic development of F2 generation were not impaired.
Teratogenicity studies using intravenous administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam in mice and rats resulted in slight reductions in rat fetal weights at maternally toxic doses but did not show teratogenic effects.
Peri/postnatal development was impaired (reduced pup weights, increase in stillbirths, increase in pup mortality) concurrent with maternal toxicity after intraperitoneal administration of tazobactam or the combination piperacillin/tazobactam in the rat.
## Pharmaceutical Particulars
6.1 List of excipients
None6.2 Incompatibilities
This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.
Whenever Piperacillin/Tazobactam is used concurrently with another antibiotic (e.g. aminoglycosides), the substances must be administered separately. The mixing of beta-lactam antibiotics with an aminoglycoside \*in vitro\* can result in substantial inactivation of the aminoglycoside.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be mixed with other substances in a syringe or infusion bottle since compatibility has not been established.
Lactated Ringer's solution is not compatible with Piperacillin/Tazobactam.
Due to chemical instability, Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be used in solutions containing only sodium bicarbonate.
Piperacillin/Tazobactam should not be added to blood products or albumin hydrolysates.6.3 Shelf life
Unopened vial: 3 years.
\*\*\*Reconstituted/Diluted solution\*\*\*
When prepared under aseptic conditions chemical and physical in use stability has been demonstrated for 5 hours at 20-25°C and for 24 hours at 2-8°C.
From the microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately.
If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user.6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package.
For storage conditions after reconstitution/dilution of the medicinal product see section 6.3.
Unused solutions should be discarded\*\*.\*\*6.5 Nature and contents of container
Clear type 1 glass vial with a bromo or chloro-butyl rubber stopper and an aluminium flip-off seal.
\*Pack sizes:\*
1 x 1 vial containing powder for solution for infusion
10 x 1 vial containing powder for solution for infusion
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling
The reconstitution and dilution are to be made under aseptic conditions. The solution is to be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. The solution should only be used if the solution is clear and free from particles.
\*\*Intravenous use\*\*
Reconstitute each vial with the volume of solvent shown in the table below, using one of the compatible solvents for reconstitution. Swirl until dissolved. When swirled constantly, reconstitution generally occurs within 5 to 8 minutes (for details on handling, please see below).
| | |
| --- | --- |
| \*\*Content of vial\*\* | \*\*Volume of solvent\\* to be added to vial\*\* |
| 2 g/0.25 g (2 g piperacillin and 0.25 g tazobactam) | 10 ml |
\*\*\\* Compatible solvents for reconstitution/dilution:\*\*
- Sterile water for injection (1)
- Sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection
- Glucose solution 5 mg/ml (5%)
(1) Maximum recommended volume of sterile water for injection per dose is 50 ml.
The reconstituted solutions should be withdrawn from the vial by syringe. When reconstituted as directed, the vial contents withdrawn by syringe will provide the labelled amount of piperacillin and tazobactam.
The reconstituted solutions can be further diluted to the desired volume (e.g. 50 ml to 150 ml) with one of the following compatible solvents:
- Glucose solution 5 mg/ml (5%)
- Sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for infusion
\*\*Co-administration with aminoglycosides\*\*
Due to the \*in vitro\* inactivation of the aminoglycoside by beta-lactam antibiotics, Piperacillin/Tazobactam and the aminoglycoside are recommended for separate administration. Piperacillin/Tazobactam and the aminoglycoside should be reconstituted and diluted separately when concomitant therapy with aminoglycosides is indicated.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
For single use only. Discard any unused solution.
