A Community Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Program’s Assessment of Prolonged Infusion Piperacillin-tazobactam for Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Pneumonia

Authors

Lee Nguyen, Loma Linda University
Paul Gavaza, Loma Linda University
Amy Y. Kang, Chapman UniversityFollow
An Nguyen, University of California, Los Angeles
Liem Hoang, Loma Linda University
Nguyen Ta, Loma Linda University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2016

Abstract

Background: The study aim was to determine and compare the length of hospitalization, mortality, clinical stability, and time to clinical stability of a standard infusion (SI) and prolonged infusion (PI) piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( PA) pneumonia patients.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated length of hospitalization, mortality, clinical stability, and time to clinical stability with either SI-TZP or PI-TZP therapy in hospitalized patients diagnosed with PA pneumonia between January 01, 2008 and June 30, 2014. Patients were included in the study if they received ≥2 days of TZP, were diagnosed with PA pneumonia, and had TZP therapy initiated within 3 days of the documented PA infection.

Results: A similar proportion of patients achieved clinical stability between the PI (n=14, 70%) and SI (n=22, 67%) groups, (p=0.8). There was no statistically significant difference in the average time to clinical stability between the PI (mean=5.3±3.6) and SI (mean=5.8±6.8) groups, (p=0.77). The total length of stay in the PI group (mean=15.9±9.8) was shorter than in the SI group (mean=23.9±33) but did not achieve statistical significance, p=0.2. The 14-day all-cause mortality was similar between the two groups, PI (n=1, 5%) and SI (n=2, 6%).

Conclusion: The use of PI TZP was equally effective as standard therapy. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings on the clinical benefits of prolonged infusion therapy.

Comments

This article was originally published in California Pharmacist Journal, volume 63, issue 2, in 2016.

Recommended Citation

Nguyen L, Gavaza P, Kang A, Nguyen A, Hoang L, Ta N. A community hospital antimicrobial stewardship program’s assessment of prolonged infusion piperacillintazobactam for Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. California Pharmacist Journal. 2016;63(2):24-29.

Copyright

California Pharmacists Association