Agranulocytosis with ceftaroline high-dose monotherapy or combination therapy with clindamycin.

Introduction: The only clinically available cephalosporin with in vivo and in vitro activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is ceftaroline, which is approved for the treatment of soft tissue infection and community-acquired pneumonia in doses of 600 mg intravenously every 12 hours for 2 weeks or less. However, many clinicians use ceftaroline to treat more serious infections and dose more frequently (every 8 hours) for longer periods of time.

Methods: A retrospective medication safety assessment was performed at two centers where agranulocytosis was observed in four patients (two at each center) who were treated with ceftaroline.