New Zealand hospitals are about to strengthen their defences against multi-resistant bacterial infections with the funding of a new antibiotic.

From 1 November PHARMAC will add ceftaroline fosamil to the list of medicines funded in DHB hospitals. Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation cephalosporin, an updated version of a long line of effective anti-bacterials. It will be particularly targeted at people exposed to multi-resistant strains of bacterial infections, more commonly referred to as `superbugs’.

Deputy Medical Director Dr Dilky Rasiah says the listing of ceftaroline is timely, given the high level of concern internationally around growing bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Dr Rasiah says ceftaroline will be preserved as a ‘last-line’ defence against multi-resistant organisms, to help protect its usefulness.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/media-2014-10-30-ceftaroline/