Ceftobiprole-A novel cephalosporin to combat MRSA

Gram positive cocci are responsible for a large number of infections, involving the skin and skin structures, respiratory tract, bloodstream etc., both in the community as well as in the hospital settings. However, the recent emergence of multidrug resistant strains has compromised therapeutic options as well as made therapy less effective and costlier. As medicine continues to evolve to combat these pathogens, they always seem to be a step ahead of us. Vancomycin, the drug of choice for resistant strains of gram positive cocci, has also seen the development of bacteria resistant to it. The introduction of ceftobiprole, a novel fifth-generation cephalosporin, has brought with it new hope for combating these pathogens. It exerts its antibacterial effect by binding to the PBP (penicillin-binding protein), blocking formation of the bacterial cell wall and ultimately leading to cell lysis and death. It has also got a wide antibacterial spectrum covering many gram negative bacteria as well as anaerobes. Ceftobiprole has been evaluated in various clinical trials including the multicentric STRAUSS 1 and 2 trials, and the results have demonstrated favourable efficacy of ceftobiprole against gram positive cocci. Thus, although ceftobiprole provides us with another option in our battle against the microbes, its judicious use is imperative so that we do not run out of therapeutic options in the near future.