PIPERACILLIN TAZOBACTAM IN THE TREATMENT OF KLEBSIELLA-PNEUMONIAE INFECTIONS IN NEONATES/

Nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae infection is associated with a high m ortality in neonates and antimicrobial therapy of these infections has been complicated by the emergence of multiresistant strains. These or ganisms remain susceptible to only a few antimicrobial agents, and som e of these are not recommended for use in children. In this study the antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of 33 neonates with Klebsie lla pneumoniae (K. pneumonia) infection in our tertiary neonatal unit, during an outbreak were: piperacillin/tazobactam (13), imipenem/cilas tatin (17), cefotaxime (2), and ciprofloxacin (1). Extended-spectrum b eta-lactamase production was detected in K. pneumoniae isolates from 1 8 of 33 (54.5%) neonates. All - cause mortality was 13 of 33 (39.4%) a nd there was no significant difference in mortality between neonates t reated with imipenem/cilastatin (6 of 17 or 35.3%) and neonates treate d with piperacillin/tazobactam (6 of 13 or 46.2%). The duration of ant imicrobial therapy and total hospital stay was similar between neonate s who received imipenem/cilastatin and those that received piperacilli n/tazobactam. This report suggests that piperacillin/tazobactam may be a useful anti microbial agent in neonatal infections caused by beta-l actamase-producing organisms.