Piperacillin
is a a semisynthetic broad-spectrum penicillin
effective against a wide variety of gram-positive
and gram-negative
aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. It has 2,3-dioxo pierazinyl carbonyl moiety
additionally in ampicillin structure. The chemical systematic
designation is (2S-(2alpha,5alpha,6beta(S*)))-6-(((((4-Ethyl-2,3-
dioxopiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl)amino) phenylacetyl)amino)-
3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1- azabicyclo(3.2.0) heptane-2-carboxylic
acid. Its main uses are in intensive care medicine, diabetes-related foot infections and empirical
therapy in febrile neutropenia. The
sodium salt of piperacillin
is administered
intramuscularly or intravenously. It is a white to off-white powder; freely soluble in water and in alcohol.
The pH of an aqueous solution should be 5 to 7.Piperacillin
is an ureidopenicillin antibiotic particularly
effective against Pseudomonas
infections. It is also used in combination with other antibiotics especially
with tazobactam, a penicillanic acid sulfone derivative which acts as a
beta-lactamase inhibitor similar to sulbactam, to widen the spectrum of activity.
Some brand names include Pipracil (piperacillin alone),
Tazocin, Tazocin, Tazocin, and Zosyn.