brl-28500 and Skin-Diseases--Bacterial

We compared the efficacy and safety of two beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, namely, piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate, in the treatment of complicated bacterial infections of skin that required hospitalization. The study was a randomized, double-blind, comparative trial involving 20 centers. The infections were classified as (i) cellulitis with drainage, (ii) cutaneous abscess, (iii) diabetic or ischemic foot infection, and (iv) infected wounds and ulcers with drainage. The clinical response rates were comparable for the two treatment regimens (61% of the patients were cured with piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate and improvement was seen in 15 and 16% of patients treated with piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate, respectively). Both regimens were found to be safe and well tolerated. These data support the use of piperacillin-tazobactam for initial empiric therapy of hospitalized patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections.

Topics: Bacteroides Infections; Clavulanic Acids; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Skin Diseases, Bacterial; Staphylococcal Skin Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Tazobactam; Ticarcillin

Topics: Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; Clavulanic Acids; Connective Tissue Diseases; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Penicillins; Respiratory Tract Infections; Skin Diseases, Bacterial; Ticarcillin; Urinary Tract Infections