The use of economic modeling to determine the hospital costs associated with nosocomial infections.
Hospital-associated infection is well recognized as a patient safety concern requiring preventive interventions. However, hospitals are closely monitoring expenditures and need accurate estimates of potential cost savings from such prevention programs. We used a retrospective cohort design and economic modeling to determine the excess cost from the hospital perspective for hospital-associated infection in a random sample of adult medical patients. Study patients were classified as being not infected (n=139), having suspected infection (n=8), or having confirmed infection (n=17). Severity of illness and intensive unit care use were both independently associated with increased cost. After controlling for these confounding effects, we found an excess cost of $6767 for suspected infection and $15,275 for confirmed hospital-acquired infection. The economic model explained 56% of the total variability in cost among patients. Hospitals can use these data when evaluating potential cost savings from effective infection-control measures.
Roberts
Rebecca R
RR
Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Hospital, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA. rroberts@ccbh.org
Scott
R Douglas
RD
Cordell
Ralph
R
Solomon
Steven L
SL
Steele
Lynn
L
Kampe
Linda M
LM
Trick
William E
WE
Weinstein
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D012189:Retrospective Studies