ABSTRACT

Piperacillin/tazobactam (PTZ) is frequently used in patients with diabetic foot infections (DFI). Prolonged use of PTZ may induce severe neutropenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PTZ induced neutropenia in patients with DFI. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of patients who received PTZ for DFI between January 1st, 2006 and December 31st, 2012. Patients who received PTZ for 10 days or more were included. Neutropenia was defined as an absolute neutrophil count of <2000 cells/mm3. PTZ-induced neutropenia was defined as neutropenia which developed during PTZ treatment, disappeared after the cessation of PTZ, and if differential diagnosis revealed no other cause of neutropenia. Thirty patients (13 females/17 males, mean age: 66.2 ± 9.4 years) with DFI had received PTZ for 10 days or more. One patient received PTZ at 2 different times. Overall, PTZ-induced neutropenia was identified in 6 of 31 treatments (19%). Additionally, thrombocytopenia accompanied neutropenia in three patients. Following the cessation of PTZ, within 10 days, neutropenia disappeared in all patients. In conclusion, prolonged PTZ use may induce neutropenia. Clinicians should follow patients with prolonged PTZ use.