Abstract

Piperacillin (Pipril - Lederle) is a new injectable ureidopenicillin related to azlocillin¹ and mezlocillin.² It combines the high activity of azlocillin against Pseudomonas³ with the broader spectrum and moderate activity of mezlocillin against E.coli, Klebsiella and other entero-bacteria.^4–6 All these penicillins are degraded by bacterial β-lactamases, although their susceptibility may differ in the laboratory.⁷