Study of Daptomycin Safety and Efficacy for Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections (cSSSI) and Bacteremia in Renal Impairment

Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent * Male or female ≥18 years of age * Diagnosis of cSSSI or Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteremia * Renal impairment of CLcr of 30 - 50 mL/min or CLcr \<30 mL/min per Cockcroft-Gault equation using actual body weight * Functioning hemodialysis access and on stable regimen for those receiving dialysis * In appropriate health for the study with no acute or chronic illnesses that could adversely impact safety or ability to complete the study Specific inclusion criteria for cSSSI: * Presence of a wound infection, major abscess, severe carbunculosis, infected ulcers, dialysis access site infection, or other type of infection in presence of complicating factor * At least 3 of the following symptoms, signs, or laboratory values of a skin infection: elevated temperature; elevated white blood cell (WBC) count; pain; tenderness; swelling; erythema greater than 1 centimeter (cm) beyond wound edge; induration; pus formation * Evidence of a Gram-positive infecting pathogen as indicated by positive Gram stain or culture obtained within 96 hours prior to study drug administration * Infection of sufficient severity to require parenteral antimicrobial therapy Specific inclusion criteria for S. aureus bacteremia: • Documented S. aureus bacteremia defined as at least one positive blood culture for S. aureus obtained within 96 hours prior to the first dose of study medication Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or lactating females, or unwilling to practice barrier methods of birth control * Received an investigational drug (including experimental biologic agents) within 30 days of study entry * Unable to discontinue use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor therapy while on study * Known allergy or intolerance to daptomycin, penicillin, or vancomycin * Active intravenous (IV) drug abuse * Confirmed or suspected osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, meningitis, epidural abscess, intra-abdominal infection, pneumonia, or infective endocarditis * Required use of non-study systemic antibacterial agent with activity against target pathogen * History of muscular disease * Neurological disease except stroke \>6 months prior to study entry * Intramuscular injection within 7 days of study drug administration * Moribund clinical condition (high likelihood of death during next 3 days) * Shock or hypotension (supine systolic blood pressure \<80 millimeters of mercury \[mmHg\]) * Body mass index (BMI) \<18 or \>40 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m\^2) \[BMI = weight (kg)/height (m\^2)\] * Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with CD4 count ≤200 cells/millimeter (mm)\^3 * Neutropenic participants with an absolute neutrophil count ≤500 cells/mm\^3 * Anticipated to develop neutropenia absolute neutrophil count ≤500 due to prior or planned chemotherapy * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value \>3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) value \>3 × ULN * Total bilirubin values ≥ 1.5 x ULN associated with ALT values \>3 x ULN * Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) value \>2 × ULN * Hemoglobin \<8 grams per deciliter (gm/dL) * Unlikely to comply with study procedures or to return for evaluations * History of rhabdomyolysis * Prior enrollment into this study * Infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens known to be resistant to daptomycin or selected comparator agent Specific exclusion criteria for cSSSI: * Minor or superficial skin infections as the primary site of infection * Cellulitis or erysipelas not associated with complicating factor as primary site of infection * Perirectal abscess, hidradenitis suppurativa, concomitant gangrene, myositis, multiple infected ulcers at distant sites, necrotizing fasciitis, or infected third-degree burn wounds * Infections requiring emergency surgery * Infections suspected or documented to be due exclusively to gram-negative, anaerobic, or fungal organism * Confirmed or suspected disorder that could interfere with the evaluations (for example, primary skin disorders) * Use of a topical antibiotic at the site of the infection * Use of systemic antibacterial therapy for the infection for \>24 hours within 48 hours prior to start of study drug unless (a) infecting Gram-positive pathogen resistant to therapy or (b) therapy administered for 3 or more days with worsening or no improvement * Planned surgical treatment that is considered curative of the infection Specific exclusion criteria for S. aureus bacteremia: * Has intravascular foreign material at the time the positive blood culture was drawn (for example., intracardiac pacemaker wires, percutaneous or implanted venous catheters, vascular grafts) unless material removed within 4 days after first dose of study medication or approval of medical monitor (exceptions: vascular stents in place for \>6 months, permanent pacemaker attached via epicardial leads, or any dialysis access device unless this material is felt to be infected) * Prosthetic heart valve * Cardiac decompensation or valve damage or both with high likelihood of valve surgery in the 3 days after randomization * Polymicrobial blood infection