You recommend that Tazocin be reported as Resistant, regardless of its zone size, for an ESBL producer. What is the reason behind this recommendation?
A. Table 10.4 (Testing and Reporting of b-lactam antibiotics) of the CDS Manual, indicates that both Timentin (ticarcillin/clavulanate) and Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) can be tested and reported for ESBL producers isolated from urine samples. This is because high levels of both these antibiotics are excreted in urine. Isolates from other sites are considered resistant as, when used as monotherapy, the level of the beta‑lactamase inhibitor (clavulanate or tazobactam) achieved may be too low to inhibit a systemic infection by an ESBL producer.
