Comparative efficacy of protected beta-lactam therapies for septic shock treatment

Abstract

Gram-negative bacteria pose a significant threat as primary agents of infection in septic shock, a condition with high mortality rates in intensive care patients. To combat this, chemists develop antibiotic drugs fortified with protective agents, such as carbapenemase inhibitors, to counter bacterial resistance mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of two antibiotic combinations, imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam (IMI/REL) and piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ), in the treatment of septic shock caused by gram-negative bacteria. Seventeen patients diagnosed with septic shock were divided into Group 1 with IMI/REL and Group 2 with PIP/TAZ. All patients received antishock treatment, renal replacement therapy, and ventilation. Bacteriological detection identified four gram-negative pathogens in biological samples, with further phenotyping and genotyping confirming resistance mechanisms.