Inclusion Criteria:

1. Written informed consent

2. Men or women of age ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of bacterial skin and skin structure infection that requires

   • Hospitalization
   • Initial parenteral therapy for at least 48 hours

   • Complicated by at least one of the following criteria:

     • Involvement of deep soft tissues (e.g. fascial, muscle layers)
     • Requirement for a significant surgical intervention including surgical drainage, drainage procedure guided by imaging and/or debridement
     • Association with a significant underlying disease that may complicate response to treatment.
     • Presence of SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) defined as two or more of the following signs or symptoms:
   • temperature > 38.3°C or < 36°C
   • white blood cell count > 12.000/mmc or < 4.000 or > 10% bands
   • pulse rate > 90 beats/min
   • respiratory rate > 20178
   • systolic blood pressure </= 90 mmgHg
   • decreased capillary refill/mottling > 2 seconds
   • lactate > 2 mmol/L
   • altered mental status
   • hyperglycemia > 120 mg/dl or 7.7 mmol/L in the absence of diabetes
   • protein C (CPR) > 20 mg/L (VR 0-5)
3. Duration of infection < 21 days

4. Diagnosis of one of the following skin and skin structure infections:

   • major abscess(es) associates with extensive cellulitis
   • erysipelas and cellulitis
   • infected pressure ulcers(s)
   • wound infections including: post surgical (surgical incision), post traumatic, human bite/clenched fist and animal bite wound and wound associated with injection drug abuse:

   • Infected ischemic ulcers with at least one of the following conditions:

     • Diabetes mellitus
     • Peripheral vascular disease
     • Conditions pre-disposing to pressure scores such as paraplegia
     • or, peripheral neuropathy

5. Presence of at least 3 of the following local signs and symptoms

   • purulent drainage or discharge
   • erythema extended >1 cm from the wound edge
   • fluctuance
   • pain or tenderness to palpation
   • swelling or induration

   • fever defined as body temperature

     • > 37.5°C (axillary)
     • > 38°C (orally)
     • > 38.5°C (tympanically) or
     • > 39°C (rectally). OR Elevated total peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count > 12,000/mm3 OR > 15% immature neutrophils (blands) regardless of total peripheral WBC count
   • C-reactive protein (CRP) >20 mg/L

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Women, who are pregnant or lactating, or in whom pregnancy can not be excluded (Note: a urine pregnancy test has to be performed for all women of childbearing potential before randomization to the study drug).

2. The following skin and skin structure infections:

   • Necrotizing fasciitis including Fournier's gangrene, ecthyma gangrenosum, streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis and clostridial necrotizing fasciitis.
   • Burn wound infections.
   • Secondary infections of a chronic skin disease (eg, atopic dermatitis).
   • Infection of prosthetic materials. Subjects with removal of a prosthetic device involved in an infection should not be included.
   • Infections where a surgical procedure alone is definitive therapy.
   • Subjects with uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections including