title: [Costs attributed to hospital-acquired infections].
abstract: The literature on costs associated with hospital-acquired infections is critically evaluated and exemplified. There are considerable added costs attributed to hospital infections. Two types of analyses are discussed: cost-of-illness studies, COIs, typically without a societal cost perspective, and cost-effectiveness studies. It is a mistake to think that costs calculated in COIs can be used as estimates of potential savings in cost-effectiveness analyses. As a general rule, this is not the case. The calculation of unit costs and marginal costs are common weaknesses in most studies.
authors.affiliation: Syddansk Universitet, Institut for Sundhedstjenesteforskning, Enhed for Sundhedsøkonomi, Odense C. kmp@sam.sdu.dk
authors.forename: Kjeld Møller
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Hans Jørn
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kolmos
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans