Clinical Medicine Reviews in Therapeutics

Ceftaroline is novel “fifth generation” cephalosporin with broad acitivity, most notably including penicillinase-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Ceftaroline is inactive against Pseudomonas spp, other gram-negative non-fermenters, anaerobes and other multidrug resistant organisms. Ceftaroline has been evaluated for complicated skin and soft tissue infections in phase three clinical trials, CANVAS 1 and 2, which demonstrated non-inferiority to vancomycin and aztreonam. Infections evaluated included cellulitis, abscess, and skin and soft tissue ulcers. Decreased efficacy was noted in patient with Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus mirabilis infections. Ceftaroline is well tolerated with a favorable safety profile, and may play an important role in the future treating serious MRSA-related infections.