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

Ceftaroline fosamil treatment patterns and outcomes in adults with community-acquired pneumonia: a real-world multinational, retrospective study

Background

This multicentre, observational, retrospective chart review study assessed ceftaroline fosamil treatment patterns and outcomes in adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in usual care settings.

Methods

Anonymized patient data were extracted from hospital records of adults with CAP who received ≥4 consecutive IV ceftaroline fosamil doses at sites in Brazil, Colombia, France, Greece, Italy, Russia and Spain.

Results

The dataset included 185 patients (58.9% male; mean age 62.2 years), of whom 128 (69.2%) had severe CAP defined by CURB-65, PSI/PORT score or physician judgement. Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 44; 23.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus [MSSA (n = 15) and MRSA (n = 14)] were the most frequently identified pathogens. Clinical response occurred in 151 (81.6%) patients overall, and in 104 (81.3%) severe CAP patients. Response within ≤4 and >4 days occurred in 79 (42.7%) and 62 (33.5%) patients (unknown, n = 10), respectively. Twenty (10.8%) patients required readmission within 30 days. Thirty-day all-cause mortality rates were 9.7% (n = 18) overall and 10.2% (n = 13) in severe CAP. In sensitivity analysis using ICU admission as a more objective marker of severe CAP (n = 75), clinical response and 30 day mortality occurred in 57 (76.0%) and 10 (13.3%) patients, respectively. Overall, clinical response to ceftaroline fosamil was associated with >60% shorter length of ICU stay (3.6 versus 9.2 days), and >30% lower hospital costs ($8449 versus $12 559) versus non-responders.

Conclusions

Ceftaroline fosamil was effective in treating adults with CAP, including severe CAP, in Europe and Latin America. Clinical response to ceftaroline fosamil was associated with reductions in healthcare resource use compared with non-responders.

Systematic review of ceftaroline fosamil in the management of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for an array of problematic community- and healthcare-acquired infections, including pneumonia, and is frequently associated with severe disease and high mortality rates. Standard recommended treatments for empiric and targeted coverage of suspected MRSA in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), are vancomycin and linezolid. However, adverse events such as acute kidney injury and Clostridium difficile infection have been associated with these antibiotics. Ceftaroline fosamil is a β-lactam/extended-spectrum cephalosporin approved for the treatment of adults and children with CAP and complicated skin and soft tissue infections. Ceftaroline has in vitro activity against a range of common Gram-positive bacteria and is distinct among the β-lactams in retaining activity against MRSA. Due to the design of the pivotal randomised controlled trials of ceftaroline fosamil, outcomes in patients with MRSA CAP were not evaluated. However, various reports of real-world outcomes with ceftaroline fosamil for pneumonia caused by MRSA, including CAP and HAP/VAP, been published since its approval. A systematic literature review and qualitative analysis of relevant publications was undertaken to collate and summarise relevant published data on the efficacy and safety of ceftaroline fosamil in patients with MRSA pneumonia. While relatively few real-world outcomes studies are available, the available data suggest that ceftaroline fosamil is a possible alternative to linezolid and vancomycin for MRSA pneumonia. Specific scenarios in which ceftaroline fosamil might be considered include bacteraemia and complicating factors such as empyema.

In vitro Activity of Ceftaroline Against an International Collection of Kingella kingae Isolates Recovered From Carriers and Invasive Infections

BACKGROUND

Improvements in blood culture techniques and molecular-based diagnostics have led to increased recognition of Kingella kingae as an invasive human pathogen causing bacteremia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis and endocarditis in young children. Serious disease and potentially life-threatening complications of infection due to K. kingae necessitate timely identification and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation broad spectrum cephalosporin that possesses activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens similar to third-generation cephalosporins, but also includes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . This study reports the in vitro activity of ceftaroline and comparator agents against an international collection of K. kingae isolates.

METHODS

A collection of 308 K. kingae isolates was obtained primarily from children with bacteremia, endocarditis, osteoarticular infections or from asymptomatic pediatric carriers. Isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility using Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute broth microdilution methodology and screened for β-lactamase production using a nitrocefin chromogenic test.

RESULTS

Ceftaroline inhibited all K. kingae isolates at ≤0.06 mg/L (MIC 50/90 , 0.015/0.03 mg/L). Ceftaroline MICs were similar to results with ceftriaxone (MIC 50/90 , 0.015/0.015 mg/L), meropenem (MIC 50/90 , 0.015/0.015 mg/L) and ampicillin-sulbactam (MIC 50/90 , 0.06/0.06 mg/L). Ceftaroline MICs were slightly lower than MICs for cefuroxime and amoxicillin/clavulanate (MIC 50/90 , 0.06/0.12 mg/L). MICs were high for clindamycin (MIC 50/90 , 2/4 mg/L) and oxacillin (MIC 50/90 , 4/8 mg/L). Sixteen isolates (5.2%) yielded a positive nitrocefin test indicating production of β-lactamase; ceftaroline demonstrated equivalent MICs against β-lactamase - positive and β-lactamase - negative strains (MIC 50/90 , 0.015/0.3 mg/L).

CONCLUSIONS

The potent activity of ceftaroline against this large international collection of K. kingae isolates supports further clinical evaluation in children.

Ceftaroline Fosamil for Treatment of Pediatric Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)/community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and complicated skin and soft tissue infection (cSSTI)/acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) represent major causes of morbidity and mortality in children. β-Lactams are the cornerstone of antibiotic treatment for many serious bacterial infections in children; however, most of these agents have no activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Ceftaroline fosamil, a β-lactam with broad-spectrum in vitro activity against Gram-positive pathogens (including MRSA and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae) and common Gram-negative organisms, is approved in the European Union and the United States for children with CAP/CABP or cSSTI/ABSSSI. Ceftaroline fosamil has completed a pediatric investigation plan including safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic evaluations in patients with ages ranging from birth to 17 years. It has demonstrated similar clinical and microbiological efficacy to best available existing treatments in phase III-IV trials in patients aged ≥ 2 months to < 18 years with CABP or ABSSSI, with a safety profile consistent with the cephalosporin class. It is also approved in the European Union for neonates with CAP or cSSTI, and in the US for neonates with ABSSSI. Ceftaroline fosamil dosing for children (including renal function adjustments) is supported by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling and simulations in appropriate age groups, and includes the option of 5- to 60-min intravenous infusions for standard doses, and a high dose for cSSTI patients with MRSA isolates, with a ceftaroline minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-4 mg/L. Considered together, these data suggest ceftaroline fosamil may be beneficial in the management of CAP/CABP and cSSTI/ABSSSI in children.

Novel Cephalosporins in Septic Subjects and Severe Infections: Present Findings and Future Perspective

In past decade, cephalosporins have developed significantly, and data regarding novel cephalosporins (i.e., ceftobiprole, ceftaroline, ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and cefiderocol) within septic and bacteremic subjects are rising. These compounds generally offer very promising in vitro microbiological susceptibility, although the variability among gram-negative and -positive strains of different cohorts is noticed in the literature. We require further pharmacological data to measure the best dose in order to prevent sub-therapeutic drug levels in critically ill patients. These new compounds in theory are the sparing solution in the Enterobacteriales infection group for different antimicrobial classes such as aminoglycosides notably within endovascular and GNB-bacteremias, as well as colistin and carbapenem-sparing strategies, favoring good safety profile molecules. Moreover, new cephalosporins are the basis for the actual indications to open up new and exciting prospects for serious infections in the future. In future, patients will be addressed with the desirable approach to sepsis and serious infections in terms of their clinical situation, inherent features of the host, the sensitivity profile, and local epidemiology, for which evidence of the use of new cephalosporin in the treatment of severe infections will fill the remaining gaps.

Off-label use of ceftaroline fosamil: A systematic review

Ceftaroline fosamil is a fifth-generation cephalosporin with anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity. It has been approved by the EMA and FDA for the treatment of adults and children with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). However, ceftaroline fosamil has a broad spectrum of activity, and a good safety and tolerability profile, so is frequently used off-label. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the safety and efficacy of off-label use of ceftaroline. The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases (2010-2018) were searched using as the main term ceftaroline fosamil and its synonyms in combination with names of infectious diseases of interest. A total of 21 studies with 1901 patients were included: the most common off-label indications for ceftaroline use were bacteremia (n=595), endocarditis (n=171), osteoarticular infections (n=368), hospital-acquired pneumonia (n=115) and meningitis (n=23). The most common reasons for off-label use were persistent or recurrent infection after standard treatment or non-susceptibility to vancomycin and daptomycin. Clinical success was evaluated in 933 patients, and 724 (77%) of these reached this positive outcome. Incidence of adverse events (AEs) was reported in 11 studies. In 83 (9%) cases there were AEs related to the use of ceftaroline; the most common reported AEs were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and neutropenia. The review results show that ceftaroline may be used in clinical settings other than those currently approved; however, the use of ceftaroline in these contexts deserves further investigation.

Ceftaroline fosamil as a potential treatment option for Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired pneumonia in adults

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is an important aetiological cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Empiric therapy for CAP frequently consists of β-lactam monotherapy or β-lactam/macrolide combination therapy. However, such agents are often ineffective against S. aureus and do not reflect the emergence and increasing prevalence of MRSA in the community setting. Ceftaroline fosamil is a fifth-generation parenteral cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive pathogens - such as S. aureus (including MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes - and typical Gram-negative pathogens, including Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. The approval of ceftaroline fosamil in the United States and Europe for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe CAP was based on two phase 3 trials (FOCUS 1 and 2), which demonstrated that ceftaroline fosamil was non-inferior to ceftriaxone, a standard empiric treatment for CAP, while exhibiting a comparable safety profile. Although head-to-head trials of ceftaroline fosamil versus comparators against MRSA CAP are lacking, the effectiveness of ceftaroline fosamil in subpopulations of patients not covered by phase 3 trials (e.g. those with MRSA CAP or severe renal impairment) has been demonstrated in the Clinical Assessment Program and Teflaro Utilization Registry (CAPTURE) study. As ineffective empiric therapy is associated with adverse outcomes, including mortality and increased costs, ceftaroline fosamil, with its extended spectrum of activity, is an attractive alternative to standard antibiotic CAP regimens.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in solid organ transplantation-Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice

These updated guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice review the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and management of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in solid organ transplantation. Despite an increasing armamentarium of antimicrobials active against MRSA, improved diagnostic tools, and overall declining rates of infection, MRSA infections remain a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. Pre- and post-transplant MRSA colonization is a significant risk factor for post-transplant MRSA infection. The preferred initial treatment of MRSA bacteremia remains vancomycin. Hand hygiene, chlorhexidine bathing in the ICU, central-line bundles that focus on reducing unnecessary catheter use, disinfection of patient equipment, and the environment along with antimicrobial stewardship are all aspects of an infection prevention approach to prevent MRSA transmission and decrease healthcare-associated infections.