Application
Piperacillin is a semisynthetic, broad-spectrum ureidopenicillin antibiotic. It is derived from ampicillin. It has been used in pharmacokinetic studies in order to optimize antimicrobial therapy in patients with sepsis1. It is used to study piperacillin hypersensitivity reactions2 and to study multidrug-resistant organisms3.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Piperacillin inhibits the final stage of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis at the level of PBP binding.
Piperacillin inhibits the last stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to certain penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which results in cell lysis. Cell lysis is mediated by bacterial cell wall autolytic enzymes. Piperacillin may interfere with autolysin inhibitors.