title: Ceftaroline: a cephalosporin with expanded Gram-positive activity.
abstract: Infections caused by resistant Gram-positive pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are now posing a major health risk for patients in hospital and community settings. There is a need to evaluate new antibiotics that would offer reliable clinical efficacy combined with a favorable safety profile for the treatment of such infections. Ceftaroline is a new member of the cephalosporin class of antibiotics with expanded activity against Gram-positive pathogens such as MRSA, vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, while retaining good activity against common Gram-negative organisms. Phase II and III studies have shown ceftaroline to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for complicated skin and skin-structure infections compared with standard therapy. Trials are ongoing in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Division 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
authors.forename: Zeina A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Kanafani
authors.forename: G Ralph
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Corey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000097583:Ceftaroline
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D000097583:Ceftaroline