meropenem + piperacillin + tazobactam + cefepime + ceftriaxone

This entry refers to a specific selection of beta-lactam antibiotics—meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, and ceftriaxone—being evaluated in the PEBBLE clinical trial conducted by Semmelweis University. The Phase 4 study focuses on comparing the efficacy and safety of extended (3-hour) versus intermittent (0.5-hour) intravenous infusions in critically ill pediatric and neonatal patients with sepsis or severe bacterial infections. These antibiotics work by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are essential enzymes for peptidoglycan cross-linking. Meropenem is a carbapenem; piperacillin/tazobactam is a penicillin combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor; cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin; and ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin. The inclusion of tazobactam serves to protect piperacillin from degradation by certain bacterial beta-lactamases, thereby extending its spectrum of activity.

Other names

Beta-lactams (PEBBLE trial)meropenem + piperacillin + tazobactam + cefepime + ceftriaxone-Semmelweis University-sepsis-bacterial infection