Empiric Piperacillin-tazobactam versus Carbapenems in the Treatment of Bacteraemia due to Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are a common cause of bacteraemia in endemic countries and may be associated with high mortality; carbapenems are considered the drug of choice. Limited data suggest piperacillin-tazobactam could be equally effective. We aimed to compare 30-day mortality of patients treated empirically with piperacillin-tazobactam versus a carbapenem in a multi-centre retrospective cohort study in Singapore.