Clinical correlation of the CLSI susceptibility breakpoint for piperacillin- tazobactam against extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species

We assessed infections caused by extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella spp. treated with piperacillin-tazobactam to determine if the susceptibility breakpoint predicts outcome. Treatment was successful in 10 of 11 nonurinary infections from susceptible strains and in 2 of 6 infections with MICs of >16/4 mug/ml. All six urinary infections responded to treatment regardless of susceptibility.