Integrated safety summary of CANVAS 1 and 2 trials: Phase III, randomized, double-blind studies evaluating ceftaroline fosamil for the treatment of patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections

Physicochemical Characteristics of Antimicrobials and Practical Recommendations for Intravenous Administration: A Systematic Review

Most antimicrobial drugs need an intravenous (IV) administration to achieve maximum efficacy against target pathogens. IV administration is related to complications, such as tissue infiltration and thrombo-phlebitis. This systematic review aims to provide practical recommendations about diluent, pH, osmolarity, dosage, infusion rate, vesicant properties, and phlebitis rate of the most commonly used antimicrobial drugs evaluated in randomized controlled studies (RCT) till 31 March 2023. The authors searched for available IV antimicrobial drugs in RCT in PUBMED EMBASE®, EBSCO® CINAHL®, and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical trials. Drugs' chemical features were searched online, in drug data sheets, and in scientific papers, establishing that the drugs with a pH of <5 or >9, osmolarity >600 mOsm/L, high incidence of phlebitis reported in the literature, and vesicant drugs need the adoption of utmost caution during administration. We evaluated 931 papers; 232 studies were included. A total of 82 antimicrobials were identified. Regarding antibiotics, 37 reach the "caution" criterion, as well as seven antivirals, 10 antifungals, and three antiprotozoals. In this subgroup of antimicrobials, the correct vascular access device (VAD) selection is essential to avoid complications due to the administration through a peripheral vein. Knowing the physicochemical characteristics of antimicrobials is crucial to improve the patient's safety significantly, thus avoiding administration errors and local side effects.

New Antimicrobials for the Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis Caused by Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacteria: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Infections by multi-drug-resistant (MDR) organisms are sharply increasing in newborns worldwide. In low and middle-income countries, a disproportionate amount of neonatal sepsis caused by MDR Gram negatives was recently reported. Newborns with infections by MDR organisms with limited treatment options may benefit from novel antimicrobials.

METHODS

We performed a literature search investigating the use in newborns, infants and children of novel antimicrobials for the treatment of MDR Gram negatives, namely ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, cefiderocol, meropenem/vaborbactam, imipenem/relebactam, and Gram positives with resistance of concern, namely ceftaroline and dalbavancin. PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched.

RESULTS

A total of 50 records fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most articles were case reports or case series, and ceftazidime/avibactam was the most studied agent. All studies showed favorable efficacy and safety profile in newborns and across different age cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

novel antibiotics may be considered in newborns for the treatment of MDR Gram negatives with limited treatment options and for Gram positives with resistance concerns. Further studies are needed to address their effectiveness and safety in newborns.

Ceftaroline: Systematic Review of Clinical Uses and Emerging Drug Resistance

OBJECTIVE

To assess the success rates of off-label uses of ceftaroline for infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and evaluate emerging ceftaroline resistance.

DATA SOURCES

We queried PubMed/MEDLINE, with the search term "Ceftaroline." Articles were restricted to the English language and year of publication (January 1, 2009-January 31, 2022).

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Clinical trials, observational studies, and case reports that reported efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, use in MRSA infections other than acute bacterial skin infection and community-acquired pneumonia, and ceftaroline resistance were selected.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The search pooled 103 publications and all abstracts were reviewed. Forty-six articles that reported efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, or off-label use in multiple patients and 7 articles on ceftaroline resistance are used in this review. Ceftaroline has been approved for treatment of acute skin/soft tissue infection and community-acquired pneumonia. Ceftaroline's efficacy in off-label infections ranged from 66.7% to 87.3% depending on the types of infection. There were 14 documented cases of ceftaroline resistance associated with PBP2a changes.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

Case series and observational studies have documented success with ceftaroline alone or in combination with vancomycin or daptomycin for treatment of MRSA bone and joint, endovascular, diabetic foot infections, and bacteremia from other causes.

CONCLUSION

Despite the lack of randomized controlled trials, ceftaroline is used as salvage therapy for different MRSA infections. The data from case series and observational studies are promising but ceftaroline should be used judiciously as ceftaroline-resistant MRSA begin to emerge.

Urgent need for novel antibiotics in Republic of Korea to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria

Multidrug resistance in bacteria is an important issue and is increasing in frequency worldwide because of the limitations of therapeutic agents. From 2010 to 2019, 14 new systemic antibiotics received regulatory approval in the United States. However, few new antibiotics have been introduced in Republic of Korea to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. Here, we introduce six novel antibiotics for Gram-positive bacteria and five for Gram-negative bacteria approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency from 2009 to October 2021, and recommend that they be approved for use in Republic of Korea at the earliest possible date.

Ceftaroline Fosamil for the Empiric Treatment of Hospitalized Adults with cSSTI: An Economic Analysis from the Perspective of the Spanish National Health System

Purpose

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI) are associated with high healthcare resource use and costs. The emergency nature of cSSTI hospitalizations requires starting immediate empiric intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment, making the appropriate choice of initial antibiotic therapy crucial.

Patients and Methods

The use of ceftaroline fosamil (CFT) as an alternative to other IV antibiotic therapies for the empiric treatment of hospitalized adults with cSSTI (vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, cloxacillin, tedizolid) was evaluated through cost consequences analysis. The model structure was a decision tree accounting for four different pathways: patients demonstrating early response (ER) either discharged early (with oral antibiotic) or remaining in hospital to continue the initial therapy; non-responders either remaining on the initial IV therapy or switching to a second-line antibiotic. The model perspective was the Spanish National Health System.

Results

CFT resulted in average percentage of patients discharged early (PDE) of 24.6% (CI 19.49–30.2%) with average total cost per patient of €6763 (€6268–€7219). Vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin and tedizolid resulted in average PDE of 22% (17.34–27.09%), 26.4% (20.5–32.32%), 28.6% (22.08–35.79%) and 26.5% (20.39–33.25%), respectively, for a total cost per patient of €6,619 (€5,902–€6,929), €6,394 (€5,881–€6,904), €6,855 (€5,800–€7,410) and €7,173 (€6,608–€7,763), respectively. Key model drivers were ER and antibiotic treatment duration, with hospital costs accounting for over 83% of the total expenditures.

Conclusion

Given its clinical and safety profile, CFT is an acceptable choice for cSSTI empiric therapy providing comparable ER and costs to other relevant antibiotic options.

WSES/GAIS/WSIS/SIS-E/AAST global clinical pathways for patients with skin and soft tissue infections

Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a variety of pathological conditions that involve the skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle, ranging from simple superficial infections to severe necrotizing infections.

Together, the World Society of Emergency Surgery, the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery, the Surgical Infection Society-Europe, The World Surgical Infection Society, and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma have jointly completed an international multi-society document to promote global standards of care in SSTIs guiding clinicians by describing reasonable approaches to the management of SSTIs.

An extensive non-systematic review was conducted using the PubMed and MEDLINE databases, limited to the English language. The resulting evidence was shared by an international task force with different clinical backgrounds.

No Evidence for Ceftobiprole-Induced Immune Hemolytic Anemia in Three Phase 3 Clinical Trials

Purpose

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is a rare but serious adverse event associated with a number of drugs, including second- and third-generation cephalosporins. A positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is a reliable finding in DIIHA, but positive results without evidence of hemolysis can occur, particularly in hospitalized patients. There have been no reports of hemolytic anemia in four previous Phase 3 trials or from post-marketing surveillance of the advanced-generation, broad-spectrum cephalosporin, ceftobiprole. The aim of this analysis was to review the incidence of positive DAT results and any evidence of hemolytic anemia from three recent Phase 3 trials of ceftobiprole.

Patients and Methods

Patients were enrolled in three Phase 3 randomized controlled trials: 94 pediatric patients with pneumonia received ceftobiprole in the BPR-PIP-002 trial; 335 adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections received ceftobiprole in the TARGET trial; and 201 adults with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia have been randomized 1:1 to ceftobiprole or daptomycin ± aztreonam in the ongoing ERADICATE trial. In all three trials, DAT results were obtained at baseline, and follow-up tests were performed either at the test of cure (TOC) visit (BPR-PIP-002), end-of-treatment (EOT) visit (TARGET), or both EOT and post-treatment Day 70 visits (ERADICATE).

Results

In the BPR-PIP-002 trial, five patients (all ceftobiprole treated) had a documented negative DAT result at baseline followed by a positive result at the TOC visit. One patient in the ongoing, blinded ERADICATE trial had a positive DAT result at both baseline and EOT. Results from other laboratory investigations showed no evidence of hemolytic anemia in these patients. No positive DAT results were reported in the TARGET trial.

Conclusion

No evidence of hemolytic anemia associated with ceftobiprole was observed in either adults or children across several indications in this analysis of three large Phase 3 trials.

Novel Antibiotics for Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Positive Microorganisms

Increasing multidrug-resistance to Gram-positive pathogens, particularly to staphylococci, enterococci and streptococci, is a major problem, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. In recent years, only a small number of novel antibiotics effective against Gram-positive bacteria has been approved. This review will discuss the current evidence for novel branded antibiotics that are highly effective in the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections by Gram-positive pathogens, namely ceftobiprole, ceftaroline, telavancin, oritavancin, dalbavancin, tedizolid, besifloxacin, delafloxacin, ozenoxacin, and omadacycline. The mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, microbiological spectrum, efficacy and safety profile will be concisely presented. As for any emerging antibiotic agent, resistance is likely to develop against these highly effective antibiotics. Only through appropriate dosing, utilization and careful resistance development monitoring will these novel antibiotics continue to treat Gram-positive pathogens in the future.

Neurological and Psychiatric Adverse Effects of Antimicrobials

Antimicrobials are a widely used class of medications, but several of them are associated with neurological and psychiatric side effects. The exact incidence of neurotoxicity with anti-infectives is unknown, although it is estimated to be < 1%. Neurotoxicity occurs with all classes of antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, antimycobacterials, antivirals, antifungals and antiretrovirals, with side effects ranging from headaches, anxiety and depression to confusion, delirium, psychosis, mania and seizures, among others. It is important to consider these possible side effects to prevent misdiagnosis or delayed treatment as drug withdrawal can be associated with reversibility in most cases. This article highlights the different neurotoxic effects of a range of antimicrobials, discusses proposed mechanisms of onset and offers general management recommendations. The effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiome and how they may ultimately affect cognition is also briefly examined.

Potential for Cost Saving with Iclaprim Owing to Avoidance of Vancomycin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Vancomycin is the most prescribed antibiotic for hospitalized adults with skin and skin structure infections. Vancomycin is associated with acute kidney injury. Iclaprim is an antibiotic under development for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and is not associated with acute kidney injury. This economic model sought to determine the potential cost saving with iclaprim owing to avoidance of vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury among hospitalized patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A hospital cost-minimization model was developed to estimate the overall cost impact of replacing empiric vancomycin with iclaprim among hospitalized adult patients with skin and skin structure infections. The structural model included: vancomycin acquisition; vancomycin assay; incidence of vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury; excess hospital length of stay if acute kidney injury occurred; frequency/cost of specialty physician consults after occurrence of acute kidney injury; and probability/cost of acute dialysis as a result of acute kidney injury. Iclaprim treatment duration was 7 days and iclaprim acquisition cost was varied to determine the upper end of the daily iclaprim price that still conferred cost savings relative to vancomycin. Duration of hospitalization for iclaprim was assumed to be the same as patients with no acute kidney injury.

RESULTS

Based on the overall acute kidney injury rate (9.2%), the neutral acquisition price threshold for iclaprim vs. vancomycin was US$1373.47/regimen. Across various subpopulations where acute kidney injury risk ranged between 9.2 and 16.7%, the daily iclaprim acquisition cost that still conferred cost savings was up to US$300/day.

CONCLUSIONS

Iclaprim has the potential to reduce the economic burden of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections in hospitalized patients at risk for vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury when iclaprim acquisition is US$300/day or less.

Ceftaroline for the treatment of osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a case series

Despite limited clinical data, ceftaroline is commonly used for treatment of complicated, invasive infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A retrospective chart review was conducted of adult patients receiving ceftaroline for MRSA osteomyelitis admitted between April 2011 and March 2016 at a five-hospital system. Twelve patients met the inclusion criteria. All patients received prior antimicrobial therapy with a median time to switch to ceftaroline of 45.5 days. Five of the 12 patients (41.7%) met criteria for ceftaroline failure. Patients with vertebral osteomyelitis (58%) had a longer length of stay, longer ceftaroline treatment, but similar success rates to those with non-vertebral osteomyelitis (57% vs. 60%). Ceftaroline is a viable alternative for a challenging patient population that has failed or are unable to receive other therapies.

Comparative analysis of neutropenia in patients receiving prolonged treatment with ceftaroline

Objectives

Ceftaroline is often used in durations greater than that studied in clinical trials. Several retrospective, non-comparative studies have suggested a higher than anticipated incidence of neutropenia in patients receiving prolonged treatment with ceftaroline. We sought to determine if ceftaroline was associated with neutropenia by comparing the incidence with ceftaroline treatment with treatment with several comparative antibiotics.

Methods

Patients receiving 14 or more consecutive days of treatment with ceftaroline were compared with patients receiving cefazolin, daptomycin, linezolid, nafcillin or vancomycin (control group). The primary outcome was the development of neutropenia. Multivariate logistic regression and propensity score weighting using inverse probability weights with regression adjustment were used to control for confounding variables.

Results

A total of 753 patients were included (53 that received ceftaroline and 700 that received a comparative antibiotic). Ceftaroline was associated with a greater incidence of neutropenia as compared with the control group (17.0% versus 3.9%, P < 0.001). Several covariates were also associated with neutropenia and included younger age, lower baseline absolute neutrophil count, liver disease and bone and joint infections. After controlling for these confounders, receipt of ceftaroline continued to be associated with the development of neutropenia (adjusted OR 3.97, P = 0.003). Analysis after propensity score weighting confirmed this finding.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that prolonged treatment with ceftaroline is associated with a greater incidence of neutropenia as compared with other antibiotics that are often used for treatment of staphylococcal infections. Careful monitoring of absolute neutrophil count is recommended in patients receiving >14 days of ceftaroline.

Rate and Incidence of Adverse Reactions Associated With Ceftaroline Exposure: Importance of Cutaneous Manifestations

BACKGROUND

Ceftaroline is a broad-spectrum, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-active β-lactam approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) and community-acquired pneumonia. Because of its favorable spectrum and pharmacokinetics, ceftaroline is frequently utilized for infections such as osteomyelitis and endocarditis. Ceftaroline has been associated with neutropenia, but evaluation of other adverse events remains limited.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the rates and types of ceftaroline-associated adverse events and determine if patients' baseline allergies affect the rates of an adverse event.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective, observational analysis was conducted of all patients who received ceftaroline between November 4, 2011, and March 28, 2017, at the VA Saint Louis Health Care System. The Naranjo algorithm was utilized as a standardized method to evaluate likelihood that the adverse events were caused by ceftaroline therapy. Ceftaroline dose, duration, indication, and baseline allergy information were collected for all patients.

RESULTS

There were 75 patients who received 78 courses of ceftaroline identified for inclusion. The most common indications were osteomyelitis (51.3%) and ABSSSI (16.7%). Overall, 13/75 (17.3%) patients developed an adverse event, and 10/75 (13.3%) required discontinuation of ceftaroline. Rash was the most common adverse reaction and occurred in 7/75 (9.3%) patients, followed by neutropenia in 3/75 (4.0%) patients. There were no differences in baseline allergy characteristics between patients who experienced an adverse reaction to ceftaroline and those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

When compared with clinical trials, ceftaroline use appears to be associated with an increased rate of overall adverse events, which is driven by cutaneous reactions.

Experience with ceftaroline for treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in a community hospital

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an organism causing significant mortality and morbidity with nosocomial infections. Ceftaroline is a new cephalosporin antibiotic that has activity against MRSA. In the USA, this antibiotic has not been approved for use in pneumonia caused by MRSA.

Objectives: To review the use of ceftaroline in MRSA pneumonia in a US hospital and evaluate its clinical success.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in an urban community hospital assessing the use of ceftaroline for MRSA pneumonia.

Results: The clinical success was comparable to the currently approved treatment for MRSA pneumonia.

Conclusion: The results of our study showed a favorable result for the treatment of MRSA pneumonia. Well-designed studies need to be performed for further validation of these results.

Vancomycin and the Risk of AKI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Vancomycin has been in use for more than half a century, but whether it is truly nephrotoxic and to what extent are still highly controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of AKI attributable to intravenous vancomycin.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We conducted a systematic review of randomized, controlled trials and cohort studies that compared patients treated with intravenous vancomycin with a control group of patients given a comparator nonglycopeptide antibiotic and in which kidney function or kidney injury outcomes were reported. PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched from 1990 to September of 2015. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed study risk of bias, and one reviewer adjudicated the assessments. A meta-analysis was conducted on seven randomized, controlled trials (total of 4033 patients).

RESULTS

Moderate quality evidence suggested that vancomycin treatment is associated with a higher risk of AKI, with a relative risk of 2.45 (95% confidence interval, 1.69 to 3.55). The risk of kidney injury was similar in patients treated for skin and soft tissue infections compared with those treated for nosocomial pneumonia and other complicated infections. There was an uncertain risk of reporting bias, because kidney function was not a prespecified outcome in any of the trials. The preponderance of evidence was judged to be indirect, because the majority of studies compared vancomycin specifically with linezolid.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that there is a measurable risk of AKI associated with vancomycin, but the strength of the evidence is moderate. A randomized, controlled trial designed to study kidney function as an outcome would be needed to draw unequivocal conclusions.

A Phase III, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial of ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg every 8 h versus vancomycin plus aztreonam in patients with complicated skin and soft tissue infection with systemic inflammatory response or underlying comorbidities

OBJECTIVES

Increasing the ceftaroline fosamil dose beyond 600 mg every 12 h may provide additional benefit for patients with complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) with severe inflammation and/or reduced pathogen susceptibility. A Phase III multicentre, randomized trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg every 8 h in this setting.

METHODS

Adult patients with cSSTI and systemic inflammation or comorbidities were randomized 2:1 to intravenous ceftaroline fosamil (600 mg every 8 h) or vancomycin (15 mg/kg every 12 h) plus aztreonam (1 g every 8 h) for 5-14 days. Clinical cure was assessed at the test of cure (TOC) visit (8-15 days after the final dose) in the modified ITT (MITT) and clinically evaluable (CE) populations. Non-inferiority was defined as a lower limit of the 95% CI around the treatment difference greater than -10%. An MRSA-focused expansion period was initiated after completion of the main study. Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers NCT01499277 and NCT02202135.

RESULTS

Clinical cure rates at TOC demonstrated non-inferiority of ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg every 8 h versus vancomycin plus aztreonam in the MITT and CE populations: 396/506 (78.3%) versus 202/255 (79.2%) patients (difference -1.0%, 95% CI -6.9, 5.4) and 342/395 (86.6%) versus 180/211 (85.3%) patients (difference 1.3%, 95% CI -4.3, 7.5), respectively. In the expansion period, 3/4 (75%) patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil were cured at TOC. The frequency of adverse events was similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg every 8 h was effective for cSSTI patients with evidence of systemic inflammation and/or comorbidities. No new safety signals were identified.

Randomized Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Early Switch From Vancomycin to Vancomycin Alternatives as a Strategy to Prevent Nephrotoxicity in Patients With Multiple Risk Factors for Adverse Renal Outcomes (STOP-NT)

BACKGROUND

Use of alternative antimicrobials to vancomycin is a potential strategy to reduce acute kidney injury (AKI) in high-risk patients, but current data do not support widespread adoption of this practice.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of early switch to a nonnephrotoxic alternative for prevention of AKI in high-risk patients who receive vancomycin.

METHODS

This was an IRB-approved, prospective randomized controlled trial in a single, tertiary care academic medical center. Patients initially prescribed vancomycin between October 2011 to April 2013 with at least 2 risk factors for AKI were included. Treatment randomization was stratified by indication for therapy. Patients were randomized to continuation of dose-optimized vancomycin or early switch to an alternative antimicrobial agent. The primary end point was nephrotoxicity by consensus guideline definition adjudicated by blinded review; the secondary end point was AKI network-defined AKI.

RESULTS

A total of 103 patients were randomized; 100 were included in the modified intent-to-treat population, 51 in the vancomycin group and 49 in the alternative group. The incidence of nephrotoxicity was 6.1% in the alternative therapy arm and 9.8% in the vancomycin group ( P = 0.72). The incidence of AKI was 32.7% in the alternative therapy group and 31.4% in the vancomycin group ( P = 0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant difference in nephrotoxicity or AKI was detected among patients treated with alternative antimicrobials compared with vancomycin. The use of alternative antimicrobial therapy instead of vancomycin solely for the purpose of preventing AKI in high-risk patients does not appear to be warranted.

Ceftaroline Fosamil: A Review in Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Intravenous ceftaroline fosamil (Zinforo™), a prodrug that is rapidly converted to its active metabolite ceftaroline, is approved for use in adults and children (from 2 months of age) with complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) or community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In several multinational trials, ceftaroline fosamil was an effective and generally well tolerated treatment in adult and paediatric patients with cSSTIs or CAP. In the phase 3 CANVAS trials, ceftaroline fosamil treatment was noninferior to vancomycin plus aztreonam in adults with cSSTIs. Based on a meta-analysis of three similarly designed, phase 3 trials (FOCUS 1, FOCUS 2 and an Asian trial), ceftaroline fosamil treatment was superior to ceftriaxone in adults with CAP of Pneumonia Outcomes Research Teams (PORT) risk class III or IV. Ceftaroline fosamil was also associated with high clinical cure rates in hospitalized children (aged 2 months to 17 years) with cSSTIs or CAP. With its broad spectrum of in vitro activity against clinically relevant Gram-positive [including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates] and Gram-negative pathogens implicated in cSSTIs and CAP, ceftaroline fosamil is an important treatment option for cSSTI and CAP in adults and children from the age of 2 months.

A critical review on the clinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical trials of ceftaroline

Only a parenteral formulation of ceftaroline is commercially available, and the prodrug, ceftaroline fosamil, is hydrolyzed quickly and completely upon intravenous administration. Ceftaroline is relatively minimally bound to plasma proteins (15-28 %), with a volume of distribution of 30-40 L. Ceftaroline undergoes minimal metabolism and does not appear to be a cytochrome P450 substrate. Its renal clearance (e.g. 4-7 L/h after multiple dosing) approximates glomerular filtration rate, with a terminal half-life of ~2.6 h in healthy subjects. The pharmacokinetics of ceftaroline have been described thoroughly in clinical investigations primarily conducted by the manufacturer. Despite its indications for treating skin and skin structure infections (SSSI) or community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), some studies that contributed data to the final drug labelling were conducted only in healthy volunteers. A significant amount of data have been contributed by the drug maker, and the overall quality of the pharmacodynamics and clinical data, based on our critical analysis provided in this review, is strong. Ceftaroline can be considered as a therapeutic alternative for complicated SSSI and CAP (Pneumonia Outcome Research Team Class III-IV). The current dosing regimen of ceftaroline 600 mg intravenously every 12 h appears sufficient to establish pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships and achieve optimal clinical efficacy. More clinical studies are needed to define the place of ceftaroline in therapy for SSSI, CAP, and other indications such as osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and other types of pneumonia. Moreover, continued development in population modelling incorporating more patient-specific data would allow further analysis to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the pharmacokinetics of ceftaroline in humans.

Safety, local tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ceftaroline fosamil administered in a reduced infusion volume

AIMS

The standard dose of ceftaroline fosamil for patients with normal renal function is 600 mg diluted in 250 ml by 60 min intravenous infusion every 12 h. This two part phase I trial (NCT01577589) assessed safety and local tolerability of multiple ceftaroline fosamil 50 ml and 250 ml infusions, and pharmacokinetics following single administrations of each infusion volume.

METHODS

Part A was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multiple dose crossover study. Twenty-four healthy subjects were randomized to simultaneous, bilateral ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg and placebo infusions in each arm (50 ml then 250 ml or vice versa) every 12 h for 72 h, with a ≥ 4.5 day washout. Local tolerability was evaluated by the Visual Infusion Phlebitis scale, with scores ≥2 considered infusion site reactions (ISRs). Part B was an open label crossover study. Ten subjects were randomized to single 50 ml and 250 ml ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg infusions on days 1 and 3 (washout on day 2). Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were taken over 24 h.

RESULTS

In part A, four subjects (16.7%) experienced ISRs, all of which were associated with placebo infusions. No ISRs were reported for either ceftaroline fosamil 50 ml or 250 ml. Plasma pharmacokinetics (ceftaroline fosamil, active ceftaroline and an inactive metabolite) were similar following single 50 ml and 250 ml infusions in part B.

CONCLUSIONS

No new safety concerns were identified for ceftaroline fosamil 600 mg 50 ml compared with 250 ml. These findings suggest infusion volumes down to 50 ml may be used in patients with fluid intake restrictions.

Ceftaroline fosamil and treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: CAPTURE study experience

The Clinical Assessment Program and TEFLARO Utilization Registry (CAPTURE) is a multicentre retrospective cohort study in the USA describing treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) with ceftaroline fosamil (CPT-F). Charts for review were chosen by random selection. Among 647 evaluable patients, 52% were obese, 46% had diabetes mellitus (DM), and 19% had peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was recovered in 28% and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), 11%. Antibiotics were administered prior to CPT-F treatment in 80%, and concurrently in 39%. Clinical success overall was 85%; in patients with DM, 83%; with PVD, 76%; and in obese patients, 88%. Clinical success was ≥ 79% across all infection types; 81% for MRSA and 83% for MSSA; and 86% for ceftaroline monotherapy and 84% for concurrent therapy. These high clinical success rates support CPT-F as an effective treatment option for ABSSSI, including infections due to MRSA and patients with significant co-morbidities.

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.

Ceftaroline fosamil: a review of its use in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections and community-acquired pneumonia

Ceftaroline, the active metabolite of the prodrug ceftaroline fosamil (Zinforo, Teflaro), is an advanced-generation, parenteral cephalosporin with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity in vitro against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and Gram-negative bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis, but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ceftaroline has demonstrated a low potential for the selection of resistance in vitro for drug-resistant Gram-positive organisms, including MRSA, as well as for Gram-negative respiratory pathogens. In pivotal phase III studies, intravenous ceftaroline fosamil demonstrated noninferiority to intravenous vancomycin plus aztreonam in patients hospitalized with complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) and intravenous ceftriaxone in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) [Pneumonia Outcomes Research Team (PORT) risk class III or IV]; however, patients with CAP admitted to the intensive care unit were not evaluated. Ceftaroline fosamil was generally well tolerated in these trials, with an adverse event profile similar to that of other cephalosporins. Diarrhoea was the most commonly reported adverse event; however, the risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea with ceftaroline fosamil appeared to be low. Potential limitations of the drug include the lack of an oral formulation and the requirement for twice-daily administration. Nonetheless, ceftaroline fosamil represents an attractive option (either alone or in combination with other agents) for the initial empirical treatment of patients hospitalized with cSSTIs (including those with suspected MRSA infection) or CAP (PORT risk class III or IV) who require intravenous antimicrobial therapy. As with all antibacterial agents, ceftaroline fosamil should be used in accordance with good antimicrobial stewardship.

Evaluation of the effect of a supratherapeutic dose of intravenous ceftaroline fosamil on the corrected QT interval

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-period crossover study was conducted in 54 healthy adults to assess the effect of ceftaroline fosamil on the corrected QT (QTc) interval. The QT interval, corrected for heart rate using an individual correction formula (QTcIb), was determined predose and at 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24.5 h after intravenous dosing with a supratherapeutic dose (1,500 mg) of ceftaroline fosamil, 400 mg moxifloxacin (positive control), and placebo. The pharmacokinetic profile of ceftaroline was also evaluated. At each time point following ceftaroline fosamil administration, the upper limit of the 90% confidence interval (CI) for the placebo-corrected change from predose baseline in QTcIb (ΔΔQTcIb) was below 10 ms (maximum, 3.4 ms at 1.5 h after dosing), indicating an absence of clinically meaningful QTc increase. The lower limit of the 90% CI of ΔΔQTcIb for moxifloxacin versus placebo was greater than 5 ms at 5 time points (maximum, 12.8 ms at 1 h after dosing), demonstrating assay sensitivity. There was no apparent correlation between ceftaroline plasma concentrations and ΔΔQTcIb. The supratherapeutic dose of ceftaroline fosamil (1,500 mg) resulted in substantially greater systemic exposure to ceftaroline than previously observed with standard therapeutic doses. Ceftaroline fosamil was well tolerated after a single 1,500-mg intravenous dose, and no clinically meaningful abnormalities in laboratory values or vital signs were observed.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity associated with dosing schedules that maintain troughs between 15 and 20 milligrams per liter

In an effort to maximize outcomes, recent expert guidelines recommend more-intensive vancomycin dosing schedules to maintain vancomycin troughs between 15 and 20 mg/liter. The widespread use of these more-intensive regimens has been associated with an increase in vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity reports. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to determine the nephrotoxicity potential of maintaining higher troughs in clinical practice. All studies pertaining to vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity between 1996 and April 2012 were identified from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trial Registry, and Medline databases and analyzed according to Cochrane guidelines. Of the initial 240 studies identified, 38 were reviewed, and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, higher troughs (≥ 15 mg/liter) were associated with increased odds of nephrotoxicity (odds ratio [OR], 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.95 to 3.65) relative to lower troughs of <15 mg/liter. The relationship between a trough of ≥ 15 mg/liter and nephrotoxicity persisted when the analysis was restricted to studies that examined only initial trough concentrations (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.81 to 5.37). The relationship between troughs of ≥ 15 mg/liter and nephrotoxicity persisted after adjustment for covariates known to independently increase the risk of a nephrotoxicity event. An incremental increase in nephrotoxicity was also observed with longer durations of vancomycin administration. Vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity was reversible in the majority of cases, with short-term dialysis required only in 3% of nephrotoxic episodes. The collective literature indicates that an exposure-nephrotoxicity relationship for vancomycin exists. The probability of a nephrotoxic event increased as a function of the trough concentration and duration of therapy.

Early response of ceftaroline fosamic in the treatment of soft-tissue infections

The US FDA recently approved ceftaroline tosamil (ceftaroline) for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and soft structure infections (ABSSSIs) and community-acquired pneumonia. In 2010, the FDA specified a new primary end point for ABSSSI of 3 days instead of the traditional test of cure. Friedland et al. used the new FDA end point in evaluating the CANVAS 1 and 2 trials. In the exploratory modified, intention-to-treat analysis, ceftaroline showed a superior clinical response at day 3 (74 vs 66.2%; difference 7.7%; 95% CI: 1.3-14%). The superior response of ceftaroline has biologic plausibility based on the in vitro activity of the antibiotic, suggesting that a true early clinical benefit may exist. However, owing to the potential for selection bias and lack of logistic regression analysis, caution should be used when extrapolating these results to clinical practice. Future trials utilizing this new end point in prospective ABSSSI trials will show over time the true value of such an end point.

Ceftaroline fosamil in the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections

Ceftaroline fosamil is a cephalosporin antibacterial approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). After intravenous administration, ceftaroline fosamil is rapidly converted to its bioactive metabolite, ceftaroline. Ceftaroline has broad-spectrum in vitro activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including contemporary resistant Gram-positive phenotypes, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. Because of its unique spectrum of activity, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) designated ceftaroline as a member of a new subclass of β-lactam antimicrobials, cephalosporins with anti-MRSA activity. The activity of ceftaroline against S. aureus extends to heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate, vancomycin-intermediate, vancomycin-resistant and daptomycin-nonsusceptible isolates. Ceftaroline has low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for all tested species of streptococci, and has potent activity against S. pneumoniae isolates with varying degrees of penicillin resistance. The activity of ceftaroline is limited against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium and against anaerobes such as Bacteroides fragilis. The in vitro activity of ceftaroline includes many Gram-negative pathogens, but does not extend to bacteria that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases, class B metallo-β-lactamases or AmpC cephalosporinases, or to most nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli. Ceftaroline fosamil has been studied for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in phase III randomized, double-blind, international, multicentre noninferiority clinical trials. Two identical trials (CANVAS 1 and CANVAS 2) compared the efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil with that of vancomycin plus aztreonam in 1378 adults with cSSSI. Results demonstrated that ceftaroline was noninferior to vancomycin plus aztreonam, with 91.6% in the ceftaroline fosamil group (pooled analysis) achieving clinical response compared with 92.7% in the vancomycin plus aztreonam group (difference -1.1%, 95% CI -4.2, 2.0). An additional analysis evaluated clinical cure in a subgroup of patients who met the FDA guidance definition of ABSSSI at treatment day 3. Clinical response, defined as cessation of lesion spread and absence of fever, was 74.0% in the ceftaroline fosamil group compared with 66.2% in the vancomycin plus aztreonam group (treatment difference 7.8%, 95% CI 1.3, 14.0). Clinical efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil in 1240 hospitalized adults with CAP was compared with that of ceftriaxone in two additional phase III trials (FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2). Of note, because ceftriaxone does not have activity against MRSA, patients with confirmed or suspected MRSA CAP were excluded from the FOCUS trials. Results demonstrated that ceftaroline was noninferior to ceftriaxone, with 84.3% in the ceftaroline fosamil group achieving clinical cure compared with 77.7% in the ceftriaxone group (difference 6.7%, 95% CI 1.6, 11.8). An additional analysis of the trials was conducted in patients with moderate to severe CAP and at least one proven typical bacterial pathogen at baseline (i.e. CABP). Day 4 clinical response rates were 69.5% for ceftaroline and 59.4% for ceftriaxone (difference 10.1%, 95% CI -0.6, 20.6). In the phase III trials, adverse event rates were similar between groups. Overall, ceftaroline is well tolerated, which is consistent with the good safety and tolerability profile of the cephalosporin class. In summary, ceftaroline fosamil is a broad-spectrum parenteral cephalosporin with excellent in vitro activity against resistant Gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA, as well as many common Gram-negative organisms. It is a welcome treatment option for ABSSSI and CABP.

Ceftaroline fosamil: a cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND

Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin with expanded gram-positive activity recently approved for clinical uses by the US Food and Drug Administration.

OBJECTIVE

This article provides an overview of the in vitro and in vivo activities, mechanism of action, pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties, clinical efficacy, and tolerability of ceftaroline.

METHODS

Relevant information was identified through a search of PubMed (1990-April 2011), EMBASE (1990-April 2011), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-April 2011), and Google Scholar using the key words ceftaroline, PPI-0903, PPI-0903M, T-91825, and TAK-599. A review of the reference lists of identified articles, a search of the US Food and Drug Administration Web site, and posters and abstracts from scientific meetings yielded additional publications.

RESULTS

In vitro, ceftaroline exhibits activity against most aerobic gram-positive isolates, common aerobic gram-negative respiratory pathogens, and some gram-positive anaerobes. The MIC range for most Staphylococcus aureus isolates, including vancomycin-resistant strains was between ≤0.008 and 4 μg/mL. In Phase III studies (CANVAS 1 and CANVAS 2), ceftaroline was found to be noninferior to vancomycin + aztreonam for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections, with a clinical cure rate of 91.6% among clinically evaluable patients (ceftaroline versus vancomycin + aztreonam: difference, -1.1; 95% CI, -4.2 to 2.0; P = NS). Ceftaroline's efficacy has also been assessed for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in 2 Phase III studies (FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2) and was equivalent to ceftriaxone, with cure rates of 84.3% and 77.7%, respectively, among clinically evaluable patients in the combined analysis (ceftaroline versus ceftriaxone: difference, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.6 to 11.8). The recommended dosage for patients 18 years and older is 600 mg IV every 12 hours. Dosage adjustment is necessary in patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤50 mL/min). The pharmacokinetic properties of ceftaroline in patients with hepatic impairments are currently unavailable. Ceftaroline appeared to be well tolerated generally. The most frequently (>3%) reported adverse events were nausea, headaches, diarrhea, pruritus, rash, and insomnia; all were usually mild to moderate, self-limiting, and of little clinical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin with broad gram-positive activity, including Methicillin-resistant S aureus and vancomycin-resistant S aureus. Its gram-negative activity includes common respiratory pathogens and members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Clinical trials have reported that ceftaroline was noninferior to ceftriaxone, and vancomycin + aztreonam for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and complicated skin and skin-structure infections, respectively.

Ceftaroline in complicated skin and skin-structure infections

Ceftaroline is an advanced-generation cephalosporin antibiotic recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections (cSSSIs). This intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotic exerts potent bactericidal activity by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. A high affinity for the penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) makes the drug especially beneficial to patients with MRSA cSSSIs. Ceftaroline has proved in multiple well-conducted clinical trials to have an excellent safety and efficacy profile. In adjusted doses it is also recommended for patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Furthermore, the clinical effectiveness and high cure rate demonstrated by ceftaroline in cSSSIs, including those caused by MRSA and other multidrug-resistant strains, warrants its consideration as a first-line treatment option for cSSSIs. This article reviews ceftaroline and its pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data to further elucidate its role in the treatment of cSSSIs.

Ceftaroline fosamil: a novel broad-spectrum cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

OBJECTIVE

To review the pharmacology, microbiology, chemistry, in vitro activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, dosage, and administration of ceftaroline fosamil (Teflaro, Forest Laboratories, Inc.), a novel parenteral broad-spectrum cephalosporin approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 29, 2010, for the treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).

DATA SOURCES

A search of MEDLINE (1966-July 2011) using the search terms ceftaroline fosamil, ceftaroline, TAK-599, PPI-0903, PPI-0903M, and T-91825 was performed. Supplementary sources included program abstracts from the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, American Society of Microbiology, European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America from 2005 to 2010, as well as information available from the manufacturer's Web site.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

All English-language articles identified from the data sources were evaluated. In vitro, preclinical, and Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials were included.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Clinical trials have been conducted evaluating use of ceftaroline for treatment of ABSSSI and CABP. Safety data from Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials suggest that it is well tolerated and has a safety and tolerability profile common to the cephalosporin class. Ceftaroline has excellent in vitro activity against gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which makes it an attractive monotherapy for the treatment of ABSSSI. However, it lacks activity against problem gram-negative bacteria (eg, Pseudomonas spp.), which will likely limit its use for serious health care-associated infections. While its role in treating CABP is supported by excellent in vitro activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and clinical efficacy data, currently available comparators may offer some advantages over ceftaroline. Finally, data are lacking to assess its role in the treatment of serious infections due to MRSA (eg, pneumonia, bacteremia).

CONCLUSIONS

These considerations should be part of the formulary review process; however, when considering the significant role MRSA plays in ABSSSI in both the community and hospital settings, we believe that ceftaroline will provide clinicians with a welcome option in addition to currently available anti-MRSA therapies for the treatment of ABSSSI.

Evaluation of ceftaroline activity versus daptomycin (DAP) against DAP-nonsusceptible methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of ceftaroline, a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin, as a therapeutic option for the treatment of daptomycin-nonsusceptible (DNS) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Four clinical DNS MRSA strains, R5717, R5563, R5996 (heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus) and R5995 (vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus) were evaluated in a two-compartment hollow-fiber in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model at a starting inoculum of 10(7) CFU/ml for 96 h. Simulated regimens were ceftaroline at 600 mg every 12 h (q12h) (maximum free-drug concentration [fC(max)], 15.2 μg/ml; serum half-life [t(1/2)], 2.3 h), daptomycin at 6 mg/kg q24h (fC(max), 7.9 μg/ml; t(1/2), 8 h), and daptomycin at 10 mg/kg q24h (fC(max), 15.2 μg/ml; t(1/2), 8 h). Differences in CFU/ml between 24 and 96 h were evaluated by analysis of variance with Tukey's post-hoc test. Bactericidal activity was defined as a ≥3-log(10) CFU/ml decrease in the colony count from the initial inoculum. The ceftaroline MIC values were 0.25, 0.5, 0.5, and 0.5 μg/ml, and the daptomycin MIC values were 2, 2, 4, and 4 μg/ml for R5717, R5563, R5996, and R5995, respectively. Ceftaroline displayed sustained bactericidal activity against 3 of the 4 strains at 96 h (R5717, -3.1 log(10) CFU/ml; R5563, -2.5 log(10) CFU/ml; R5996, -5.77 log(10) CFU/ml; R5995, -6.38 log(10) CFU/ml). Regrowth occurred during the daptomycin at 6-mg/kg q24h regimen (4 strains) and the daptomycin at 10-mg/kg q24h regimen (3 strains). At 96 h, ceftaroline was significantly more active, resulting in CFU/ml counts lower than those obtained with daptomycin at 6 mg/kg q24h (4 strains, P ≤ 0.008) and daptomycin at 10 mg/kg q24 h (3 strains, P ≤ 0.001). Isolates with increased MIC values for daptomycin (all 4 strains) but not for ceftaroline were recovered. Ceftaroline was effective against the 4 isolates tested and may provide a clinical option for the treatment of DNS MRSA infections.

Ceftaroline pharmacodynamic activity versus community-associated and healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus, vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus using an in vitro model

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the pharmacodynamics of ceftaroline against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), heteroresistant (h) vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA), VISA and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) using an in vitro model.

METHODS

Two methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), one community-associated (CA)-MRSA, one healthcare-associated (HA)-MRSA, one hVISA, three VISA and two VRSA were studied. The pharmacodynamic model was inoculated with a concentration of 1 × 10⁶ cfu/mL and ceftaroline dosed every 12 h (at 0 and 12 h) to simulate the ƒC(max) and t(½) obtained after administering 600 mg intravenously every 12 h (ƒC(max), 16 mg/L; t(½), 2.6 h). Samples were collected over 24 h to assess viable growth and changes in ceftaroline MIC over time.

RESULTS

Ceftaroline ƒT(> MIC) of ≥ 92% (ceftaroline MICs, ≤ 1 mg/L) was bactericidal (≥ 3 log₁₀ killing) against MSSA, CA-MRSA, HA-MRSA, hVISA, VISA and VRSA at 12 and 24 h. No bacterial regrowth occurred over the study period and no change in ceftaroline MIC was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Ceftaroline ƒT(> MIC) of ≥ 92% (ceftaroline MICs, ≤ 1 mg/L) was bactericidal (≥ 3 log₁₀ killing) against MSSA, CA-MRSA, HA-MRSA, hVISA, VISA and VRSA at 12 and 24 h.

Integrated safety summary of FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2 trials: Phase III randomized, double-blind studies evaluating ceftaroline fosamil for the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia

OBJECTIVES

Ceftaroline fosamil, the prodrug of the active metabolite ceftaroline, is a broad-spectrum, parenteral cephalosporin approved for treatment of moderate to severe bacterial infections, including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This report provides an integrated safety summary of the ceFtarOline Community-acquired pneUmonia trial versuS ceftriaxone (FOCUS) 1 and 2 trials (registration numbers: NCT00621504 and NCT00509106).

METHODS

Patients hospitalized with CAP requiring intravenous therapy and having Pneumonia Outcomes Research Team (PORT) risk class scores of III or IV were randomized (1:1) to receive 600 mg of ceftaroline fosamil administered intravenously every 12 h or 1 g of ceftriaxone administered intravenously every 24 h for 5-7 days. All patients were followed for treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurring from the start of the initial study drug infusion up to the test-of-cure visit; serious adverse events (SAEs) including deaths occurring up to the late follow-up visit or within 30 days after the last dose were additionally recorded. Scheduled laboratory testing was conducted up to the test-of-cure visit; unscheduled testing continued up to the late follow-up visit.

RESULTS

A total of 1228 patients (613 in the ceftaroline fosamil group and 615 in the ceftriaxone group) received any amount of drug and were included in the safety analysis. The incidences of TEAEs (47.0% versus 45.7%), SAEs (11.3% versus 11.7%), discontinuations (4.4% versus 4.1%) and deaths (2.4% versus 2.0%) were similar between the ceftaroline fosamil and the ceftriaxone groups, respectively. Diarrhoea (4.2%), headache (3.4%) and insomnia (3.1%) were the most commonly reported TEAEs in patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil. The distribution of TEAEs based on severity was also similar between groups, and the majority of patients in both treatment groups (∼75%) had either no TEAEs or only mild TEAEs.

CONCLUSIONS

The data from the FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2 trials presented in this integrated safety summary demonstrate that ceftaroline fosamil is well tolerated, with a tolerability profile similar to ceftriaxone and the cephalosporin class overall, with no unexpected safety concerns being identified.

The problem of complicated skin and skin structure infections: the need for new agents

Complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs) continue to pose a significant clinical challenge. The most frequent cause of these infections is Staphylococcus aureus, although other organisms, including Streptococcus pyogenes and, in certain circumstances, Enterobacteriaceae, are also involved. The relentless increase in methicillin resistance among S. aureus isolated in hospitals throughout the world has made it important to provide coverage for these organisms when treating cSSSIs in hospitals. More recently, however, there has been a striking increase in methicillin resistance among staphylococci isolated from infections acquired in the community, particularly in the USA. As a result, previous recommendations for empirical therapy of these important infections are now outdated. The papers in this Supplement detail the properties of a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin that has activity against MRSA and is, thus, an outstanding candidate for empirical therapy of cSSSIs. The papers included provide data on the in vitro activity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as the clinical efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil, which is a welcome addition to our therapeutic armamentarium against cSSSIs.