Results of the effectiveness of two piperacillin–tazobactam molecules in the real world

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to determine the effectiveness of two piperacillin–tazobactam molecules in terms of all-cause mortality, mortality by infection, and hospital stay. Methods: A cohort study was performed involving patients treated with piperacillin–tazobactam at a clinic in Colombia. The patients were divided into those who received the innovator piperacillin–tazobactam (from July to December 2014) and those who received the generic piperacillin–tazobactam (from January to June 2015). Socio-demographic, clinical (all-cause mortality, death by infection, days of hospitalization), microbiological, pharmacological, and comorbidity variables were evaluated. Multivariate analyses were performed. Results: A total of 279 patients were included: 140 treated with the innovator piperacillin–tazobactam and 139 with the generic piperacillin–tazobactam. The median age was 63 years, and 56% of the patients were male. There was no statistically significant difference in death from all causes (22.9% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.069), death by infection (7.9 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.399), or hospital stay (18.1 ± 16.2 vs. 15.7 ± 11.6 days, p = 0.178) between the innovator and generic piperacillin–tazobactam, respectively. Conclusions: The generic piperacillin–tazobactam was equivalent to the innovator piperacillin–tazobactam with regards to all-cause mortality, mortality by infection, hospital stay, and safety, and at a lower cost, which may be useful for decision-makers in hospitals. Keywords: Critical care, Treatment outcome, Piperacillin