Activity of ceftaroline and comparator agents tested against contemporary Gram-positive and -negative (2011) isolates collected in Europe, Turkey, and Israel.

The activity of ceftaroline was tested against 8233 isolates mainly collected from bloodstream, urinary, respiratory and skin and soft tissue specimens in European medical centers during 2011. This cephalosporin displayed activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC(50), 0·25 mg/l), with greater activity against MRSA (MIC(50), 1 mg/l) than other β-lactams tested. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae, including penicillin-resistant strains, other streptococcal groups and Haemophilus spp., ceftaroline was highly active and MIC90 values ranged from ≤0·015 to 0·12 mg/l. Ceftaroline, like other cephalosporins, had limited activity against ESBL-phenotype Enterobacteriaceae, but showed good activity against isolates not displaying an ESBL-phenotype. Ceftaroline remains very active against MRSA and other organisms than could be associated with its approved indications in the EU (complicated skin and soft tissue infections and community-acquired pneumonia).