Piperacillin+tazobactam (Tazocin) is one of our most important broad spectrum agents and is in short supply.

Please conserve it by avoiding use in these common situations:

• Uncomplicated biliary sepsis  (Use ampicillin+gentamicin(max 48hrs) OR if allergic, ceftriaxone)
• Urinary tract infection with sepsis (Use ampicillin+gentamicin(max 48 hrs) OR if allergic, ceftriaxone)
• Early onset (< 5d after admission) ICU -associated pneumonia or ward onset hospital acquired pneumonia (any time period after admission) (Use augmentin oral/IV OR benzylpenicillin+gentamicin)
• Community acquired pneumonia  (For moderate CAP, use  benzylpenicillin+doxycycline, severe CAP-  benpen+gentamicin_azithromycin)

Also see this AIMED article on Tazocin misuse in community-acquired pneumonia.

Note:  For late onset (> 5 days after admission) ICU-associated pneumonia use of piperacillin+tazobactam is appropriate in the HNELHD setting.