Department of Health (DH) advises on Piperacillin-Tazobactam injection supply problems

Due to the ongoing antibiotic constraints, the DH and Public Health England have taken the decision to release a limited supply of both cefuroxime 1.5g and co-amoxiclav 1.2g injection held in a central stockpile for England for the event of a pandemic emergency situation.

The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) advises that the current supply of piperacillin-tazobactam should be reserved for Microbiology/Infectious Diseases approval, with neutropenic sepsis, severe sepsis of unknown source and ventilator acquired pneumonia as priority settings.

 

The guidance also makes recommendations for alternative agents for some indications outside of these priority areas.