Early Directed Oritavancin Therapy in the Emergency Department May Lead to Hospital Avoidance Compared to Standard Treatment for Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (ABSSSIs) are a leading cause of presentation to the emergency department (ED). This study aimed to determine the potential impact of utilizing oritavancin in the ED or observation unit (OBS) on hospital inpatient admission. METHODS: A single-center community teaching hospital developed a pharmacy-led pilot to evaluate the use of oritavancin as a measure to avoid hospital admissions/readmissions in appropriate patients with ABSSSIs. Prior to initiation of the oritavancin pilot, prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined for proper patient selection. The pilot ran from January 1 to December 31, 2017. The data were compared to corresponding data for an equal number of patients during the pilot period who had similar ABSSSI diagnoses to the oritavancin pilot group but received vancomycin. The primary outcome was length of stay (LOS), defined as the total time in hours from presentation to the ED until discharge home, including time spent in the OBS or inpatient unit. RESULTS: During the study period, 122 patients met the study criteria and 61 patients received oritavancin in the ED or OBS unit. These patients were compared to 61 consecutive patients during the pilot period who received vancomycin. Administration of oritavancin in the ED or OBS was associated with a significantly shorter mean LOS relative to the standard of care group (19.5 vs. 85.98 h, p < 0.01). All-cause 30-day readmissions were the same for both groups (6 vs. 6, p = 1). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that use of oritavancin in the ED or OBS setting for ABSSSIs may shorten LOS without negatively affecting readmissions.