Examining the use of ceftaroline in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis with reference to human cathelicidin LL-37.

Five cases of bacterial meningitis treated with ceftaroline (4 Streptococcus pneumoniae and 1 Staphylococcus aureus) are summarized here. The pharmacodynamics of human cathelicidin LL-37 and ceftaroline were evaluated against S. pneumoniae. Patients who received ceftaroline 600 mg every 8 h (q8h) (1 S. aureus and 3 S. pneumoniae) were successfully treated; treatment failed in 1 patient with S. pneumoniae who received 600 mg q12h. Ceftaroline increased the negative surface charge and sensitized S. pneumoniae to killing by LL-37, a peptide implicated in blood-brain barrier defense.