From the Research
Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil) does not effectively cover Serratia marcescens. Teflaro is a fifth-generation cephalosporin with good activity against many gram-positive organisms including MRSA and many gram-negative bacteria, but it has limited activity against Serratia marcescens. For Serratia infections, more appropriate antibiotic choices would include carbapenems (such as meropenem or imipenem), fluoroquinolones (like ciprofloxacin), or third-generation cephalosporins (such as ceftazidime) 1. Serratia marcescens often produces AmpC beta-lactamases and can develop resistance to many antibiotics, including cephalosporins. When treating suspected or confirmed Serratia infections, it's essential to obtain susceptibility testing to guide therapy, as resistance patterns can vary. Empiric coverage for Serratia typically requires broader-spectrum antibiotics than Teflaro can provide, and combination therapy may be necessary in severe infections until susceptibility results are available. The most recent study from 2022 1 shows that ceftaroline has limited activity against Serratia marcescens, while ceftazidime-avibactam has good activity against this organism, excluding carbapenem-resistant isolates. Therefore, ceftazidime-avibactam or other broader-spectrum antibiotics should be considered for the treatment of Serratia marcescens infections. It's also important to note that the development of resistance in Serratia marcescens can occur during antibiotic therapy, highlighting the need for regular susceptibility testing and adjustment of treatment as needed 2. In summary, Teflaro is not the best choice for Serratia marcescens infections, and other antibiotics with broader-spectrum activity should be considered.