Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the NHS guidelines are for prescribing the drug Tazocin; and if he will make a statement.
Guidelines for Tazocin (piperacillin and tazobactam) use are prepared by individual hospitals based on their local microbiological resistance data.
In response to a recent global shortage of piperacillin/tazobactam, the Government’s advisory committee on Antimicrobial Prescribing, Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection produced guidance on its use and suitable alternatives. This can be found at:
http://bsac.org.uk/dh-advises-on-piperacillin-taxobactam-injection-supply-problems/
Piperacillin and tazobactam usage is associated with increased development of antimicrobial resistance and reduction in its use is encouraged through the NHS quality improvement scheme. More information is available via:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/cquin/cquin-17-19/