A recent study conducted by researchers at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, revealed that the antibiotic Zosyn is more likely to be associated with mortality in sepsis patients compared to other treatments.
The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed the outcomes of 7,569 sepsis patients with a median age of 63. Of these patients, 4,523 were treated with piperacillin-tazobactam (Zosyn) and 3,046 were treated with cefepime. The results showed that patients who received Zosyn were 5 percent more likely to die within 90 days compared to those treated with cefepime.
Researchers noted that the use of anti-anaerobic antibiotics, such as Zosyn, to treat sepsis may be harmful. While cefepime, another antibiotic used in the study, has little effect on anaerobic bacteria found in the stomach and intestines. The study also highlighted the impact of Zosyn on the microbiome and patient outcomes, emphasizing the importance of considering the specific antibiotic given rather than just the speed of administration.
Additionally, the study revealed that patients treated with anti-anaerobic antibiotics experienced worse outcomes compared to those who did not receive such drugs. The destruction of anaerobic bacteria in the gut can have negative effects on health, including increased risk of mortality, organ failure, and pneumonia.
The findings suggest that the widespread use of anti-anaerobic antibiotics should be reconsidered due to the potential harm they may cause to critically ill patients. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of different antibiotics on patient outcomes and the microbiome.
