ceftaroline fosamil at a glance
Medicine class
Beta-lactam antibiotic; cephalosporin.
How it is given
Infusion into a vein after reconstitution and dilution.
Licensed age range
Adults and children, including newborn babies.
Important spectrum limit
It is not active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or atypical respiratory bacteria such as Legionella, Mycoplasma and Chlamydophila.
What is ceftaroline fosamil used for?
UK-licensed uses are:
Complicated skin and soft-tissue infections.
Community-acquired pneumonia acquired outside hospital.
How does ceftaroline fosamil work?
Ceftaroline fosamil is converted in plasma to ceftaroline. Ceftaroline binds essential penicillin-binding proteins and prevents susceptible bacteria from completing their protective cell wall, causing them to die. Clinical efficacy depends on the infection site and laboratory susceptibility.
ceftaroline fosamil preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 600 mg
How to take ceftaroline fosamil
It is not taken by mouth. A healthcare professional reconstitutes and dilutes the powder before giving it by intravenous infusion.
Tell the clinical team about previous reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems or other antibiotics.
Report pain, redness or inflammation around the infusion site.
Do not prepare or administer it yourself unless specifically trained within a supervised care service.
ceftaroline fosamil side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Headache or dizziness
- Rash or itching
- Pain, redness or inflammation at the infusion site
- Fever
- Raised liver transaminases
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including breathing difficulty or facial swelling
- Severe skin reactions with blistering, peeling, fever or widespread rash
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea caused by antibiotic-associated colitis
- Blood-cell disorders or haemolytic anaemia
- Encephalopathy causing confusion or reduced awareness, particularly with renal impairment
- Eosinophilic pneumonia, potentially causing new fever, cough or breathlessness
ceftaroline fosamil in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are limited, so the product information advises avoiding ceftaroline fosamil as a precaution unless its antibacterial profile is clinically required. The prescriber should balance available evidence against the risks of inadequately treated infection.
ceftaroline fosamil while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether ceftaroline fosamil or ceftaroline enters human milk, and risk to a breastfed infant cannot be excluded. The clinical team should consider the need for treatment, benefits of breastfeeding and the infant's age, prematurity and health.
ceftaroline fosamil interactions
Formal clinical interaction studies have not been performed, but interaction potential is expected to be low. The clinical team should review all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products.
CYP450 inhibitors, inducers or substrates
A clinically important metabolic interaction is considered unlikely because ceftaroline neither depends substantially on CYP450 metabolism nor inhibits or induces these enzymes in vitro.
Probenecid and medicines affecting OCT2, OAT1 or OAT3 transporters
A transporter-mediated interaction is not expected because ceftaroline is not a substrate or inhibitor of these renal uptake transporters in vitro.
Common questions about ceftaroline fosamil
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What infections does ceftaroline fosamil treat?
Its UK licence covers complicated skin and soft-tissue infections and community-acquired pneumonia.
Does it treat MRSA?
It has clinically supported activity against MRSA in complicated skin and soft-tissue infections. Efficacy for MRSA community-acquired pneumonia is not established.
Does it cover Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.