Pharmacokinetics of piperacillin in subjects with various degrees of renal function

The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin were examined after single intravenous doses to three groups of male patients with creatinine clearances of greater than or equal to 60 (group I), greater than or equal to 20 but less than 60 (group II), and less than 20 (group III) ml/min per 1.73 m2. Each of 32 patients received either 1 or 4 g of piperacillin as a bolus injection. Three patients received both doses. After a rapid 0.5- to 1-h distribution phase, antibiotic levels in serum declined monoexponentially. After the 1-g dose, mean peak piperacillin levels in serum were 60, 103, and 67 micrograms/ml and the beta phase elimination half-lives were 1.0, 1.6, and 3.9 h in groups I, II, and III, respectively. After the 4-g dose, the respective mean peak piperacillin levels in serum were 329, 232, and 262 micrograms/ml and beta phase half-lives were 1.4, 2.3, and 2.6 h in the three groups. There was no clear evidence of significant dose-dependent effects on any pharmacokinetic parameters in any of the groups. Piperacillin levels in urine were far higher than those in serum, generally exceeding the minimal inhibitory concentrations for susceptible organisms during the 24 h after both the 1- and the 4-g dose. Piperacillin dosage modification is required only in patients with severe renal impairment.