The Safety and Economic Impact of Cefazolin Versus Nafcillin for the Treatment of Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus Bloodstream Infections

Introduction: Anti-staphylococcal penicillins are generally accepted as first-line therapy for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia, but their use may be limited by interstitial nephritis and acute kidney injury. Alternatives include first-generation cephalosporins including cefazolin.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare adverse effects and clinical outcomes among patients with MSSA bacteremia treated with cefazolin or nafcillin. The primary endpoint was acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as a 0.3 mg/dL or 50% increase from baseline.

Results: Incidence of AKI was 27/82 (33%) versus 9/68 (13%) (p = 0.007) in the nafcillin and cefazolin arms, respectively. After adjusting for endocarditis and intensive care unit admission in multivariate logistic regression, nafcillin was an independent predictor of AKI [adj odds ratio (OR) = 2.74; 95% (CI) 1.1-6.6]. Patients who experienced AKI were more likely to have a prolonged intensive care unit stay.

Conclusion: Risk of nephrotoxicity is increased with nafcillin compared with cefazolin. Cefazolin should considered as a safer alternative to nafcillin for select patients with MSSA bacteremia.