EFFICACY, SAFETY, AND TOLERANCE OF PIPERACILLIN TAZOBACTAM COMPARED TO CO-AMOXICLAV PLUS AN AMINOGLYCOSIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE PNEUMONIA/

An open, randomized, multicenter study was conducted to compare the ef ficacy and safety of piperacillin/tazobactam and co-amoxiclav plus ami noglycoside in the treatment of hospitalized patients with severe comm unity-acquired or nosocomial pneumonia. Of the 89 patients who entered the study, 84 (94%) were clinically evaluable. A favorable clinical r esponse was observed in 90% of the piperacillin/ tazobactam group and in 84% of the co-amoxiclav/aminoglycoside group (not significant). The bacteriological efficacy was comparable in both groups (96% vs. 92%; not significant). There was only one fatal outcome in the piperacillin /tazobactam group compared to six in the co-amoxiclav/aminoglycoside g roup regimen (P=0.058). The adverse event rate was non-significantly l ower in the piperacillin/tazobactam group compared to the co-amoxiclav /aminoglycoside group (2% vs. 7%, P=0.32). Piperacillin/tazobactam is safe and highly efficacious in the treatment of serious pneumonia in h ospitalized patients. It compares favorably with the combination of co -amoxiclav/aminoglycoside.