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Ceftaroline: a cephalosporin with expanded Gram-positive activity

Zeina A Kanafani1, G Ralph Corey

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Cairo Street, PO Box 11-0236/11D, Riad El Solh 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon. zk10@aub.edu.lb

Future Microbiology
|February 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Ceftaroline is a new antibiotic effective against resistant Gram-positive infections like MRSA. Clinical trials show it is well-tolerated for skin infections, with ongoing studies for pneumonia.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Resistant Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), present a significant health risk in healthcare and community settings.
  • There is a critical need for novel antibiotics with proven clinical efficacy and a good safety profile to combat these resistant infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ceftaroline, a novel cephalosporin antibiotic, for treating infections caused by resistant Gram-positive pathogens.
  • To assess ceftaroline's activity against a spectrum of resistant bacteria, including MRSA, vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus, and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Main Methods:

  • Phase II and III clinical studies were conducted to compare ceftaroline with standard therapies.
  • Studies assessed clinical outcomes, including efficacy and tolerability, in patients with complicated skin and skin-structure infections.
  • Ongoing trials are investigating ceftaroline for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

Main Results:

  • Phase II and III studies demonstrated that ceftaroline is an effective treatment for complicated skin and skin-structure infections.
  • Ceftaroline was found to be well-tolerated in patients receiving treatment for these infections.
  • The antibiotic exhibits expanded activity against key Gram-positive resistant pathogens while maintaining efficacy against Gram-negative organisms.

Conclusions:

  • Ceftaroline represents a promising therapeutic option for infections caused by challenging Gram-positive resistant bacteria.
  • Its favorable efficacy and safety profile in skin infections supports its role in combating antibiotic resistance.
  • Further research, including ongoing trials for community-acquired pneumonia, will continue to define ceftaroline's clinical utility.

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