Outcomes and management costs in patients hospitalized for skin and skin-structure infections.

Background: This study was conducted to determine outcomes and costs of treating complicated skin and skin-structure infections (cSSSIs) due to gram-positive only, gram-negative only, or mixed pathogens (gram-positive and gram-negative), including those with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: Data on length of stay (LOS), mortality, and charges for cSSSIs were compiled from claims in the multihospital Solucient database from 2002 to 2006.

Results: Among the 5156 cases with pathogens identified, 59.