Comparative costs of ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of diabetic foot infections.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate potential cost savings, trial data were used to determine the clinical outcomes for i.v. ertapenem given once daily and i.v. piperacillin-tazobactam given every six hours daily in treating diabetic foot infections.


METHODS
A cost-minimization analysis (CMA) was conducted on the drug-dosing data of the subset of patients enrolled in a recent double-blind randomized trial who were treated solely as inpatients and were clinically evaluable at fi nal assessment (n = 99). Cost per dose was calculated from (a) average hospital acquisition price per dose for ertapenem ($40.52) or piperacillin-tazobactam ($13.58), (b) average U.S. wages and benefits for labor, based on nine published time-and-motion studies of i.v. antibiotic preparation and administration ($3.10), and (c) consumable supplies, using a 40% discount off the manufacturer list price ($2.90). For each patient, the actual number of antibiotic doses given was multiplied by total cost per dose.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between antibiotic groups with respect to patient demographics, percentage with a severe wound, and mean days of i.v. therapy. Compared with piperacillin-tazobactam, patients treated with ertapenem received significantly fewer mean doses (25.5 versus 7.5; p < 0.0001) and lower antibiotic-related costs ($502.76 versus $355.55, respectively; p < 0.001). The $147.21 difference between groups accounts for approximately 3% of total hospital Medicare reimbursements for these infections.


CONCLUSIONS
A CMA of treatment of diabetic foot infections showed that, compared with piperacillin-tazobactam given four times daily i.v., ertapenem given once daily i.v. was associated with lower drug acquisition and supply costs and less time and labor devoted to preparation and administration of i.v. therapy.
Tice
Alan D
AD
John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA.
Turpin
Robin S
RS
Hoey
Christopher T
CT
Lipsky
Benjamin A
BA
Wu
Jasmanda
J
Abramson
Murray A
MA
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077727:Ertapenem; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D047090:beta-Lactams; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D000077727:Ertapenem; D010878:Piperacillin