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Ceftaroline: A New Cephalosporin with Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Christopher Duplessis1, Nancy F Crum-Cianflone

  • 1Infectious Disease Division, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA United States.

Clinical Medicine Reviews in Therapeutics
|July 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Ceftaroline is a new antibiotic effective against drug-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It shows promise for treating serious skin infections and pneumonia, offering a valuable option against antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance, particularly from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), poses a significant global health threat.
  • Emerging resistance to glycopeptides like vancomycin limits treatment options for severe infections.
  • PVL-positive MRSA strains are linked to severe necrotizing pneumonia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ceftaroline, a novel fifth-generation cephalosporin, against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria.
  • To assess ceftaroline's potential as a treatment for complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Main Methods:

  • Phase III clinical studies were conducted to assess ceftaroline's effectiveness.
  • The studies involved administering ceftaroline (600 mg intravenously every 12 hours).

Main Results:

  • Ceftaroline demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA, VISA, hVISA, and VRSA.
  • Efficacy was shown in phase III trials for treating cSSTIs and CAP.
  • The antibiotic exhibits a low propensity for inducing resistance and a favorable safety profile.

Conclusions:

  • Ceftaroline is a valuable addition to the therapeutic arsenal against MRSA and other resistant Gram-positive infections.
  • It offers an effective treatment option for complex infections, including skin and respiratory tract infections.
  • Further post-marketing surveillance is recommended to gather additional clinical data.

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