TREATMENT OF HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATED SKIN AND SKIN-STRUCTURE INFECTIONS - DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED, MULTICENTER STUDY OF PIPERACILLIN-TAZOBACTAM VERSUS TICARCILLIN-CLAVULANATE

We compared the efficacy and safety of two beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, namely, piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcilli n-clavulanate, in the treatment of complicated bacterial infections of skin that required hospitalization. The study was a randomized, doubl e-blind, comparative trial involving 20 centers. The infections were c lassified as (i) cellulitis with drainage, (ii) cutaneous abscess, (ii i) diabetic or ischemic foot infection, and (iv) infected wounds and u lcers with drainage. The clinical response rates were comparable for t he two treatment regimens (61% of the patients were cured with piperac illin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate and improvement was seen in 15 and 16% of patients treated with piperacillin-tazobactam and tic arcillin-clavulanate, respectively). Both regimens were found to be sa fe and well tolerated. These data support the use of piperacillin-tazo bactam for initial empiric therapy of hospitalized patients with compl icated skin and skin structure infections.