This multicenter, prospective observational study of
patients with cSSTIs was designed to explore the current
epidemiology, treatment, and resulting clinical outcomes of
patients hospitalized with these infections. During an 18
month period we enrolled 1033 patients. Almost 3/4ths of
patients had at least one healthcare associated risk factor.
Infections of the lower extremity comprised over half the
cases and two-thirds has an open wound. In almost 90% of
cases antibiotic therapy was initially an empiric intravenous
agent, the most common of which was vancomycin. A substantial
percentage of the patients were treated with