Ceftaroline fosamil: a brief clinical review

Ceftaroline is a novel cephalosporin with a favorable tolerability profile and broad in vitro activity against many resistant Gram-positive and common Gram-negative organisms. Ceftaroline fosamil is the first cephalosporin to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is also approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, including cases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (with or without concurrent bacteremia), although there are no data at this time to support the use of ceftaroline fosamil for the treatment of pneumonia caused by MRSA. Ceftaroline fosamil is likewise approved by the European Commission for the treatment of adults with complicated skin and soft tissue infections or community-acquired pneumonia. This review summarizes the pharmacokinetic and microbiologic properties of ceftaroline, as well as the safety and efficacy data that led to its approval by the FDA in 2010 and the European Commission in 2012. Future directions to be addressed are also highlighted.