Clinical Question: What is the incidence of neutropenia in patients treated with prolonged courses of ceftaroline?
Background: Ceftaroline, a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic, is FDA approved for the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Other than a few case reports, previous studies have not assessed the incidence of neutropenia in patients receiving ceftaroline for off-label indications or for prolonged courses.
Study Design: Retrospective chart review.
Setting: Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Synopsis: The authors identified 67 patients who received ceftaroline for seven or more consecutive days. Overall, ceftaroline exposure for two or more weeks was associated with a 10%–14% incidence of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count less than 1,800 cells/mm3), and ceftaroline exposure for three or more weeks was associated with a 21% incidence of neutropenia. Both the mean duration of ceftaroline exposure and the total number of ceftaroline doses were associated with incident neutropenia.
This is the first study to systematically assess the incidence of ceftaroline-associated neutropenia. The data support a correlation between cumulative ceftaroline exposure and neutropenia. Hospitalists managing patients with prolonged courses of ceftaroline should carefully monitor hematologic studies during treatment.
Bottom Line: The overall rate of neutropenia in patients receiving prolonged courses of ceftaroline is significant, and it is associated with duration of ceftaroline exposure and total number of doses received.
Citation: Furtek KJ, Kubiak DW, Barra M, Varughese C, Ashbaugh CD, Koo S. High incidence of neutropenia in patients with prolonged ceftaroline exposure. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016;71(7):2010-2013.
Short Take
New Guidelines from IDSA/ATS for Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia Can Safely Be Implemented for Hospitalized Patients
A multicenter, non-inferiority randomized clinical trial of 312 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) found that stopping antibiotics after five days was not associated with worse outcomes and may reduce readmissions.
Citation: Uranga A, España PP, Bilbao A, et al. Duration of antibiotic treatment in community-acquired pneumonia: a multicenter randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(9):1257-1265.
