Ceftaroline - a cause for neutropenia.

Abstract

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE:

The US Food and Drug Administration approved ceftaroline in 2010 for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and skin and soft-tissue infections. The most common adverse reactions are diarrhoea, nausea and rash. To present the first case of neutropenia directly related to ceftaroline.

CASE SUMMARY:

A 90-year-old female was given ceftaroline for treatment of a pneumonia complicated by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and possible vertebral osteomyelitis. After 25 days of ceftaroline, she developed neutropenia. Ceftaroline was discontinued and her white blood cell count returned to normal within one week.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION:

Although neutropenia is a potential cephalosporin class effect, we present the first case of neutropenia directly related to ceftaroline. Agranulocytosis and neutropenia are rare, yet potentially life-threatening adverse effects of cephalosporins. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential for ceftaroline to cause neutropenia, particularly in patients treated for greater than two weeks.

• Authors: R H Rimawi, A Frenkel, P P Cook
• Journal: Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics (J Clin Pharm Ther) Vol. 38 Issue 4 Pg. 330-2 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1365-2710 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23590618 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Cephalosporins
• T 91825

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cephalosporins (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Neutropenia (chemically induced, microbiology)
• Pneumonia, Bacterial (blood, drug therapy)