The role of diabetes mellitus in the treatment of skin and skin structure infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: results from three randomized controlled trials

SummaryObjectiveTo compare outcomes of treating complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with linezolid versus vancomycin in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.MethodsWe pooled data from three prospective clinical trials in which 1056 patients were randomized to receive either linezolid (intravenous (IV) or oral) or vancomycin (IV) every 12 h, for 7–28 days.ResultsDiabetic (n = 349) and non-diabetic patients (n = 707) had comparable demographics and co-morbidities. Clinical success rates were lower in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (72.3% and 85.8%, respectively). Overall, non-diabetic patients had a shorter adjusted mean length of stay (LOS) compared with diabetic patients (8.2 and 10.7 days, respectively; p < 0.0001). Among diabetic patients, rates were comparable with linezolid and vancomycin treatment for clinical success (74% and 71%, respectively) and microbiological success (60% and 54%, respectively). Among non-diabetic patients, clinical and microbiological success rates were higher in linezolid- than in vancomycin-treated patients (90% and 81%, respectively, and 78% and 65%, respectively). Rates of drug-related adverse events were comparable in diabetic and non-diabetic patients and with linezolid and vancomycin treatment. Adjusted mean LOS was shorter with linezolid than with vancomycin treatment in diabetic patients (9.5 and 11.7 days, respectively; p = 0.03) and non-diabetic patients (7.6 and 8.9 days, respectively; p = 0.02).ConclusionsClinical success rates were lower in diabetic than non-diabetic patients with cSSSI caused by MRSA. Comparing linezolid and vancomycin, clinical and microbiological success rates were comparable in diabetic patients, but were better for linezolid than for vancomycin in non-diabetic patients.