title: Economic impact of the community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus epidemic on the Driscoll Children's Health Plan.
abstract: Cellulitis and abscess accounted for increasing percentages of inpatient (4.6-11.1%), outpatient (0.6-1.2%) and total (1.7-3.3%) expenses from 2001 through 2004. The per member per month expenses attributed to cellulitis and abscess increased from $0.74 in 2001 to $1.19 in 2004. The epidemic of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children has had a significant economic impact on the Driscoll Children's Health Plan.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Leaders 2B/Pediatric Research 4U, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA. kevinpurcell@stx.rr.com
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fergie
authors.forename: Mary Dale
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014481:United States