piperacillin

Piperacillin is a semisynthetic, broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic of the ureidopenicillin class. It is derived from ampicillin and features a polar side chain that enhances penetration into Gram-negative bacteria and reduces susceptibility to cleavage by Gram-negative beta-lactamase enzymes. Piperacillin acts by irreversibly binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in bacterial cell walls, inhibiting the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis, which leads to cell lysis and death. It is particularly effective against *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* and other susceptible Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms but lacks strong activity against certain beta-lactamase-producing bacteria unless combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor such as tazobactam[5][7]. Piperacillin was patented in 1974, approved for medical use in 1981, and is classified as critically important for human medicine by the World Health Organization[5].

Brand names

Pipracil

Other names

piperacilinapipéracillinepiperacillin anhydrouspiperacillinum