Ceftaroline
Also sold as: Ceftaroline Fosamil
Related Medications
These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.
Classification: Cephalosporins (source: RxClass/NLM)
- ceftolozaneCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefprozilCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefepimeCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefpodoximeCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- ceftibutenCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefazolinCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefotaximeCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefotetanCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefoxitinCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- ceftizoximeCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- ceftriaxoneCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefuroximeCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefiderocolCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- cefdinirCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
- ceftobiproleCephalosporin AntibacterialSame Class
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Drug Information
Mechanism of Action
12.1 Mechanism of Action Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )] .
Indications & Uses
1. INDICATIONS AND USAGE Ceftaroline fosamil for injection is a cephalosporin antibacterial indicated in adult and pediatric patients for the treatment of the following infection caused by designated susceptible bacteria: Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adult and pediatric patients (at least 34 weeks gestational age and 12 days postnatal age) ( 1.1 ) Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older ( 1.2 ) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of ceftaroline fosamil for injection and other antibacterial drugs, ceftaroline fosamil for injection should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections Ceftaroline fosamil for injection is indicated in adult and pediatric patients (at least 34 weeks gestational age and 12 days postnatal age) for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible isolates of the following Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes , Streptococcus agalactiae , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.4 )]. 1.2 Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia Ceftaroline fosamil for injection is indicated in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible isolates of the following Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae (including cases with concurrent bacteremia), Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates only), Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Escherichia coli. 1.3 Usage
Dosage & Administration
2. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Dosage of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection by Indication in Adult and Pediatric Patients ( 2.1 , 2.2) Indication Age Range Dosage Infusion Time Duration Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) 18 years and older 600 mg every 12 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days ≥2 years to <18 years (> 33 kg) 400 mg every 8 hours OR 600 mg every 12 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days ≥2 years to <18 years (≤33kg) 12 mg/kg every 8 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days 2 months to <2 years 8 mg/kg every 8 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days 0* to <2 months 6 mg/kg every 8 hours 30 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days *Gestational age 34 weeks and older and postnatal age 12 days and older Indication Age Range Dosage Infusion Time Duration Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) 18 years and older 600 mg every12 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 7 days ≥2 years to < 18 years (> 33 kg) 400 mg every 8 hours OR 600 mg every12 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days ≥2 years to < 18 years (≤ 33kg) 12 mg/kg every8 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days 2 months to < 2 years 8 mg/kg every8 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5 to 14 days Dosage adjustment is required in adult patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) <50 mL/min and in End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) including hemodialysis ( 2.3 ) There is insufficient information to recommend a dosage regimen for pediatric patients with CrCL <50 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage in Adult Patients The recommended dosage of ceftaroline fosamil for injection is 600 mg administered every 12 hours by intravenous (IV) infusion over 5 to 60 minutes in patients ≥18 years of age. The duration of therapy should be guided by the severity and site of infection and the patient’s clinical and bacteriological progress. The recommended dosage and administration by infection is described in Table 1. Table 1: Dosage of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection by Indication in Adults Indication Dosage Frequency Infusion Time Recommended Duration of Treatment Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) 600 mg Every 12 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5-14 days Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) 600 mg Every 12 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5-7 days 2.2 Recommended Dosage in Pediatric Patients The recommended dosage of ceftaroline fosamil for injection in pediatric patients is based on the age and weight of the child. The duration of therapy should be guided by the severity, site of infection and the patient’s clinical and bacteriological progress. Pediatric Patients 2 Months of Age and Older For pediatric patients 2 months of age and older, ceftaroline fosamil for injection is administered every 8 hours by intravenous infusion over 5 to 60 minutes. Ceftaroline fosamil for injection dosing regimen is dependent on the type of infection (ABSSSI, CABP). See dosing Table 2 below. Table 2: Dosage of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection by Indication in Pediatric Patients 2 Months of Age and Older Indication Age Range Dosage and Frequency Infusion time Recommended Duration of Treatment Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) OR Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) 2 months to < 2 years 8 mg/kg every 8 hours 5 to 60 minutes 5-14 days ≥ 2 years to < 18 years (≤ 33 kg) 12 mg/kg every 8 hours ≥ 2 years to < 18 years (> 33 kg) 400 mg every 8 hours OR 600 mg every 12 hours Pediatric Patients Less Than 2 Months of Age Ceftaroline fosamil for injection are administered every 8 hours by intravenous infusion over 30 to 60 minutes for patients less than 2 months of age. Ceftaroline fosamil for injection dosing regimen is only recommended for patients with ABSSSI. See dosing Table 3 below. Concentrations of ceftaroline fosamil in the cerebrospinal fluid have not been evaluated [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.4 )]. There is no information for dosing ceftaroline fosamil for injection in infants less than 34 weeks gestational age and less than 12 days postnatal age. Table 3: Dosage of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection in Pediatric Patients less Than 2 Months of Age Indication Age Range Dosage and Frequency Infusion time Recommended Duration of Treatment Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) 0* to < 2 months 6 mg/kg every 8 hours 30 to 60 minutes 5-14 days *Gestational age 34 weeks and older and postnatal age 12 days and older. 2.3 Dosage Adjustments in Patients with Renal Impairment Adults : No dosage adjustment is required in adult patients with CrCL > 50 mL/min. The dose in adult patients should be adjusted when creatinine clearance (CrCL) is < 50 mL/min as shown below (see Table 4). Table 4: Dosage of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection in Adult Patients with Renal Impairment Estimated CrCl a (mL/min) Recommended Dosage Regimen for Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection > 50 No dosage adjustment necessary > 30 to ≤ 50 400 mg IV (over 5 to 60 minutes) every 12 hours ≥ 15 to ≤ 30 300 mg IV (over 5 to 60 minutes) every 12 hours End-stage renal disease, in
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6. ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described in greater detail in the Warnings and Precautions section Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Clostridioides difficile -Associated diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Neurological Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Direct Coombs’ Test Seroconversion [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] The most common adverse reactions occurring in >2 % of adult patients and ≥3% of pediatric patients are diarrhea, nausea, and rash. Additional adverse reactions that occurred in ≥3% of pediatric patients include vomiting and pyrexia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Apotex Corp. at 1-800-706-5575 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a drug cannot be compared directly to rates from clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect rates observed in practice. Adult Patients Ceftaroline fosamil for injection was evaluated in four controlled comparative Phase 3 clinical trials (two in ABSSSI and two in CABP) which included 1,300 adult patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil for injection (600 mg administered by IV over 1 hour every 12h) and 1,297 patients treated with comparator (vancomycin plus aztreonam or ceftriaxone) for a treatment period up to 21 days. The median age of patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil for injection was 54 years, ranging between 18 and 99 years old. Patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil for injection were predominantly male (63%) and Caucasian (82%). Serious Adverse Reactions and Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation In the four pooled adult Phase 3 clinical trials, serious adverse reactions (SARs) occurred in 98/1,300 (7.5%) of patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil for injection and 100/1,297 (7.7%) of patients receiving comparator drugs. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred in 35/1,300 (2.7%) of patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil for injection and 48/1,297 (3.7%) of patients receiving comparator drugs with the most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation being hypersensitivity for both treatment groups at a rate of 0.3% in the ceftaroline fosamil for injection group and 0.5% in comparator group. Most Common Adverse Reactions No adverse reactions occurred in greater than 5% of adult patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil for injection. The most common adverse reactions occurring in > 2% of patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil for injection in the pooled adult phase 3 clinical trials were diarrhea, nausea, and rash. Table 6 lists adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 2% of patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil for injection in the pooled adult Phase 3 clinical trials. Table 6: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 2% of Patients Receiving Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection in the Pooled Adult Phase 3 Clinical Trials Adverse Reactions Pooled Phase 3 Clinical Trials (four trials, two in ABSSSI and two in CABP) Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection (N=1,300) Pooled Comparators a (N=1,297) Gastrointestinal Disorders Diarrhea 5 % 3 % Nausea 4 % 4 % Constipation 2 % 2 % Vomiting 2 % 2 % Laboratory Investigations Increased transaminases 2% 3 % Metabolism and Nutrition disorders Hypokalemia 2 % 3 % Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Rash 3% 2% Vascular Disorders Phlebitis 2% 1% a Comparators included vancomycin 1 gram IV every 12h plus aztreonam 1 gram IV every 12h in the Phase 3 ABSSSI trials, and ceftriaxone 1 gram IV every 24h in the Phase 3 CABP trials. Other Adverse Reactions Observed During Clinical Trials of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Injection Following is a list of additional adverse reactions reported by the 1,740 adult patients who received ceftaroline fosamil for injection in any clinical trial with incidences less than 2%. Blood and lymphatic system disorders - Anemia, Eosinophilia, Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia Cardiac disorders - Bradycardia, Palpitations Gastrointestinal disorders - Abdominal pain General disorders and administration site conditions - Pyrexia Hepatobiliary disorders - Hepatitis Immune system disorders - Hypersensitivity, Anaphylaxis Infections and infestations - Clostridioides difficile colitis Metabolism and nutrition disorders - Hyperglycemia, Hyperkalemia Nervous system disorders - Dizziness, Convulsion Renal and urinary disorders - Renal failure Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders - Urticaria Pediatric Patients Ceftaroline fosamil for injection was evaluated in three clinical trials (one in ABSSSI and two in CABP) which included 257 pediatric patients 2 months to < 18 years of age treated with ceftaroline fosamil for injection, and 102 patients treated with comparator agents for a treatment period up to 21 days. In two trials, one in ABSSSI and one in CABP, the dose was selected to result in exposu
Contraindications
4. CONTRAINDICATIONS Ceftaroline fosamil for injection is contraindicated in patients with known serious hypersensitivity to ceftaroline or other members of the cephalosporin class. Anaphylaxis has been reported with ceftaroline. Known serious hypersensitivity to ceftaroline or other members of the cephalosporin class. ( 4 )
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Data sourced from RxNorm (NLM/NIH), FDA Orange Book, OpenFDA, DailyMed. Last updated: 2026-03-02.