Daptomycin Versus Vancomycin in Participants With Skin Infections Due to MRSA

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥18 years of age * Primary reason for hospitalization is skin and skin structure infection of a complicated nature (for example, cellulitis/erysipelas, major cutaneous abscess, or wound infection) that requires IV antibiotic treatment for an anticipated 3 to14 days and hospitalization for management 1. Further defined as infections either involving deeper soft tissue or requiring significant surgical intervention or infections in which the participant has a significant underlying disease state that complicates the response to treatment 2. Are suspected or documented to be caused by MRSA 3. At least 3 of the following clinical signs and symptoms associated with the cSSSI: i. Pain; tenderness to palpation; ii. Elevated temperature (\>37.5°Celsius \[99.5° Farenheit\] oral or \>38° Celsius \[100.2° Farenheit\] rectal); iii. Elevated white blood count (WBC) \>10,000/millimeters cubed (mm\^3); iv. Swelling and/or induration; erythema; v. Purulent or seropurulent drainage or discharge * Physician determination that vancomycin or daptomycin would be the initial treatment of choice for the cSSSI under study (or meets institutional criteria for use of vancomycin or daptomycin) * Informed consent obtained and signed * Less than 24 hours post hospital admission Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with known bacteremia, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or endocarditis * Conditions where surgery (in and of itself) constitutes curative treatment of the infection (for example, amputation, incision and drainage) * cSSSIs which can be managed with an oral antibiotic * Participants where hospitalization is expected to be \<48 hours * Nosocomial infection * Participants with necrotizing infections or concomitant gangrene * Use of systemic antibacterial therapy for the infection for \> 24 hours within 48 hours prior to the start of study drug unless (a) the infecting Gram-positive pathogen was resistant in vitro to the therapy or (b) the therapy was administered for 3 or more days with either worsening or no improvement in the infection * Pathogens identified at study entry to be nonsusceptible to daptomycin or vancomycin * Participants with neutropenia or compromised immune function (that is, severe neutropenia \[absolute neutrophil count \<500 cells per microliter (μL)\] or is anticipated to develop severe neutropenia during the study period due to prior or planned therapy) * Renal insufficiency (calculated creatinine clearance \[CLcr\] \<30 milliliters per minute or on dialysis) * Known to be allergic or intolerant to daptomycin or vancomycin * Pregnant or nursing mothers * Suspected implanted device or prosthetic as source of infection * Is considered unlikely to comply with study procedures or to be available for follow-up contact