[Economical evaluation of the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in pediatric oncology patients. Santiago. Chile].
BACKGROUND
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a serious opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Transplant recipients and patients with cancer represent the highest risk group. The antifungal treatment involves prolonged hospitalization and high economic resources.


OBJECTIVE
to estimate costs represented by IA as an intercurrent complication of oncologic treatment.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study. Estimation of the cost of treatment in pediatric oncologic patients with IA in the Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna during the years 2007-2008 was done. A control for each case of IA paired by sex, age, number of diagnosis and clinical department was selected.


RESULTS
There were 13 patients during the observation period. The attributable cost of treatment of aspergillosis was US $23,600 and the cost for each indicator was: hospital days US $16,500; antifungal therapy US $7,000; and serum galactomannan US $100.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the cost of treating IA is mainly due to hospitalization and antifungal medications. Three patients acquired IA in spite of staying in a protected environment.
Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile. clau.moreno.m@gmail.com
Claudia
C
Moreno
Gladys
G
del Valle
Paulina
P
Coria
D000293:Adolescent; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000097:blood / Q000191:economics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D008351:Mannans; C012990:galactomannan; D005690:Galactose