[Antibiotic prophylaxis in closed fractures is cost-effective if the possibility of a deep infection decreases through this by 0.25%].
This patient-control study was undertaken to assess the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis of postoperative infections after surgical treatment of closed fractures. The costs of 16 patients with an infection (8 with deep infections, 8 with superficial infections) were investigated and compared with the costs of 16 similar noninfected patients for the parameters hospital stay, antibiotics and surgery. The data were collected from the trauma department of the University Hospital of the Free University of Amsterdam. There were no substantial extra costs in the group of the 8 patients with superficial wound infection compared with their noninfected controls. The mean extra costs for a deep infection in the other 8 patients were Dfl 35,224.-. Considering these results, antibiotic prophylaxis of postoperative wound infections is cost-effective, if it leads to a decrease of the risk of deep wound infections by about 0.25%.
Albers
B A
BA
Afd. Heelkunde en Traumatologie, Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.
Patka
P
P
Haarman
H J
HJ
Kostense
P J
PJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antibiotische profylaxe bij gesloten fracturen kosten-effectief als de kans op een diepe infectie erdoor afneemt met 0.25%.