A new HPLC-MS/MS analytical method for quantification of tazobactam, piperacillin, and meropenem in human plasma

A simple and fast high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of tazobactam, piperacillin, and meropenem in human plasma has been developed and validated. Simple sample preparation with a volume of 10 mu L was done by protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol-acetonitrile-water (6:2:2, v/v/v). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Luna column with a precolumn security guard by gradient elution using a mobile phase consisting of water with the addition of 0.1% formic acid (component A) and mixture methanol-acetonitrile (8:2, v/v) with the addition of 0.1% formic acid (component B). The run time was 2.7 min. The lower limits of detection and lower limits of quantification were for piperacillin 0.03 and 0.1 mg/L, for meropenem 0.04 and 0.2 mg/L and for tazobactam 0.16 and 0.5 mg/L. The validated method was used for therapeutic monitoring of tazobactam, piperacillin, and meropenem in samples of patients treated in the intensive care unit.