Background: Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) occur frequently, but limited data do not allow
any consensus on an optimal treatment strategy. We designed this prospective, multicenter, observational study to
to explore the current epidemiology, treatment, and resulting clinical outcomes of cSSTIs to help develop strategies
to potentially improve outcomes.
Methods: From June 2008 to December 2009 we enrolled a pre-specified number of adults treated in 56 U.S.
hospitals with intravenous antibiotic(s) for any of the following cSSTIs: diabetic foot infection (DFI); surgical site
infection (SSI); deep soft tissue abscess (DSTA); or, cellulitis. Investigators treated all patients per their usual practice
during the study and collected data on a standardized form.