New Antibiotic Treatment for Patients With Serious Skin Infections Becomes Available in Wales

LONDON, August 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



For UK medical media and Welsh regional reporters only

The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) has recommended Zinforo(R)Black Triangle Drug(ceftaroline fosamil), a new intravenous cephalosporin antibiotic,for use within NHS Wales for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs).[1] Ceftaroline fosamil represents an important new treatment option for patients and physicians, in an environment where relatively few new antibiotic agents are becoming available and where resistant and difficult to treat organisms often present treatment challenges.

The AWMSG has recommended ceftaroline fosamil as an option for restricted use in Wales for patients with cSSTIs, suspected to be due to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).[1] The AWMSG positive decision follows a similar positive recommendation by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) on 14 January 2013.[2]

"Complicated skin infections are a common problem in hospitalised patients in Wales that have become increasingly difficult to treat, in part because of resistant infections such as MRSA," said Dr Neil Carbarns, Consultant Microbiologist at Aneurin Bevan Health Board. "Ceftaroline fosamil provides an important new treatment option that may help overcome some of the current challenges we face when managing cSSTI patients with MRSA infections, who require an effective treatment without compromising on tolerability."

Resistance to existing antibiotics is an increasing problem that can result in difficulty in treating infections, leading to failed therapy and potential complications.[ 3] Antibiotic resistance remains a major public health issue in Wales, where it has been on the rise for the past 7 years.[3] In November last year, Wales Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ruth Hussey wrote to prescribers expressing her concern over increasing antibiotic resistance.[4] This has been echoed by England CMO, Dame Sally Davies, in her report published in March 2013, where she highlighted the impending public health threat posed by antibiotic resistance and called for action to be taken to address this.[5]

Following authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in September 2012, ceftaroline fosamil is now the only approved cephalosporin monotherapy in Europe with demonstrated clinical efficacy against MRSA. Across Europe, MRSA is a major cause of cSSTI, affecting 150,000 patients per year and resulting in extra in-hospital costs of EUR380 million.[6] Recent data from Wales shows the rate of MRSA cases being 5 per 100,000 bed days.[7]