A 50-year-old woman comes to the hospital because of epigastric abdominal pain that started after her last meal and has become progressively worse over the past 6 hours. She has had intermittent pain similar to this before, but it has never lasted this long. Abdominal examination is notable for right upper quadrant tenderness to palpation that is worsened by deep inspiration. Her temperature is 39°C (102.2°F). Laboratory studies show leukocytosis. An ultrasound of the abdomen reveals multiple gallstones and gallbladder wall thickening with pericholecystic fluid. The patient is admitted and started on intravenous piperacillin combined with tazobactam. Which of the following is the most likely reason to use this drug combination in this patient?

Question

A 50-year-old woman comes to the hospital because of epigastric abdominal pain that started after her last meal and has become progressively worse over the past 6 hours. She has had intermittent pain similar to this before, but it has never lasted this long. Abdominal examination is notable for right upper quadrant tenderness to palpation that is worsened by deep inspiration. Her temperature is 39°C (102.2°F). Laboratory studies show leukocytosis. An ultrasound of the abdomen reveals multiple gallstones and gallbladder wall thickening with pericholecystic fluid. The patient is admitted and started on intravenous piperacillin combined with tazobactam.  Which of the following is the most likely reason to use this drug combination in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Beta-lactamase inhibitors (eg, clavulanic acid, sulbactam, tazobactam) prevent beta-lactamase from inactivating penicillin class drugs, which extends the spectrum of their activity.

A 50-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Hospital Because of Epigastric