Inpatient versus outpatient management of community-acquired acute skin and soft tissue infections. Clinical outcomes and factors associated with eligibility for early discharge.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) cause an increasing demand for inpatient and outpatient medical care. In recent years, health systems have promoted strategies to treat selected patients on an outpatient basis, which may avoid hospital admissions and associated complications.

Methods

A retrospective, cohort study of adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a SSTI between 2018 and 2020.

Primary objective

to compare clinical outcomes in patients with SSTI treated as outpatients or inpatients.

Primary outcome

Early clinical failure.

Secondary outcomes

Recurrences, unplanned readmissions and ED visits related to the SSTI.

Secondary objective

to investigate factors associated with eligibility for early discharge of inpa

SUBMITTER: Sendra E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12625354 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature