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Published on: April 18, 2019

A beneficial interaction between imipenem and piperacillin possibly through their renal excretory process

Hiroshi Saitoh1, Masako Oda, Toru Gyotoku

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, and Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido Hospital, Japan. saitoh@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
|December 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Piperacillin (PIPC) enhances imipenem (IPM) efficacy for sepsis by inhibiting its renal clearance. This drug interaction prolongs IPM

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Nephrology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Serious infections like sepsis require effective antibiotic treatment.
  • Imipenem (IPM) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
  • Piperacillin (PIPC) is another antibiotic used for serious infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism behind the combined use of IPM and PIPC.
  • To assess how PIPC affects IPM's renal uptake and plasma concentrations.

Main Methods:

  • Studied IPM uptake by rat renal cortical slices.
  • Measured IPM plasma concentrations in rabbits after co-administration with PIPC.

Main Results:

  • PIPC significantly inhibited IPM uptake by renal slices.
  • Co-administration of PIPC with IPM increased IPM plasma concentrations in rabbits.
  • PIPC slightly decreased PIPC uptake in the presence of IPM.

Conclusions:

  • PIPC likely interferes with renal transport of IPM via organic anion transporters.
  • This interaction may prolong the duration of IPM above minimum inhibitory concentrations, enhancing its efficacy.

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