Emergency department disposition and hospital-based resource utilization for skin and soft tissue infections

The authors investigate how emergency department (ED) disposition decisions for skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) relate to hospital-based resource utilization, aiming to identify factors that predict the need for more intensive care. They found that certain demographics and clinical factors, such as older age and the presence of diabetes or systemic inflammatory response syndrome, were associated with higher odds of requiring extensive hospital care, while specific treatment approaches like incision and drainage were linked to lower odds. The study suggests that optimizing outpatient management for selected patients could reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve follow-up care for those at higher risk.