OBJECTIVES:  To assess patterns of utilization and cost of healthcare during episodes of ABSSSI known/suspected to be due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) involving admission to US hospitals. METHODS:  We identified all admissions in the database from July 2010 to November 2014 with a principal diagnosis consistent with ABSSSI (ICD-9-CM codes 035.XX, 681.XX, 682.XX, 686.XX, 958.3, 998.5X). Among all such admissions, we selected those with continuous enrollment for 6 months prior to--and 44 days following--admission, and either secondary diagnoses of MRSA or receipt of anti-MRSA antibiotics. Admissions were excluded with secondary diagnoses of other infections. Care episodes were constructed, beginning with the first claim associated with ABSSSI within 7 days before the admission and ending on the earliest of either: (1) a 14-day gap in relevant claims; or (2) a claim for a non-ABSSSI infection post discharge. We examined patterns of healthcare utilization and cost during the episode (inpatient and outpatient). Reimbursed amounts were used in lieu of costs. RESULTS:  Mean (SD) cost of ABSSSI episodes (n=30,241) was $11,894 ($10,167), of which inpatient care represented 78% ($9,287 [SD $8,153]). ABSSSI episodes lasted an average of 15.9 (5.6) days. Length of stay was ≥4 days for 25% of admissions. Fifty-three percent and 73% received outpatient care during pre- and post-admission, respectively; 93% were discharged home. While 97% received antibiotics post discharge (primarily with anti-MRSA agents), only 7% had evidence of receipt of outpatient intravenous therapy. CONCLUSIONS:  Results of our study suggest that annual total costs of care to US payers for ABSSSI episodes known/suspected to be due to MRSA are $81.4 million. Treatment included limited use of outpatient intravenous therapy. Opportunity may exist to reduce costs of care for episodes of ABSSSI by leveraging existing guideline-driven outpatient treatment pathways and/or novel, long-acting antibiotics.