Cost-effectiveness of preoperative nasal mupirocin treatment in preventing surgical site infection in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty: a cost-effectiveness analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate preoperative use of mupirocin in patients with total joint arthroplasty (TJA).


METHODS
Simple decision tree model.


METHODS
Outpatient TJA clinical setting.


METHODS
Hypothetical cohort of patients with TJA.


METHODS
A simple decision tree model compared 3 strategies in a hypothetical cohort of patients with TJA: (1) obtaining preoperative screening cultures for all patients, followed by administration of mupirocin to patients with cultures positive for Staphylococcus aureus; (2) providing empirical preoperative treatment with mupirocin for all patients without screening; and (3) providing no preoperative treatment or screening. We assessed the costs and benefits over a 1-year period. Data inputs were obtained from a literature review and from our institution's internal data. Utilities were measured in quality-adjusted life-years, and costs were measured in 2005 US dollars.


METHODS
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.


RESULTS
The treat-all and screen-and-treat strategies both had lower costs and greater benefits, compared with the no-treatment strategy. Sensitivity analysis revealed that this result is stable even if the cost of mupirocin was over $100 and the cost of SSI ranged between $26,000 and $250,000. Treating all patients remains the best strategy when the prevalence of S. aureus carriers and surgical site infection is varied across plausible values as well as when the prevalence of mupirocin-resistant strains is high.


CONCLUSIONS
Empirical treatment with mupirocin ointment or use of a screen-and-treat strategy before TJA is performed is a simple, safe, and cost-effective intervention that can reduce the risk of SSI. S. aureus decolonization with nasal mupirocin for patients undergoing TJA should be considered.


METHODS
Level II, economic and decision analysis.
Department of Orthopaedics, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. xcourville@gmail.com
Xan F
XF
Courville
Ivan M
IM
Tomek
Kathryn B
KB
Kirkland
Marian
M
Birhle
Stephen R
SR
Kantor
Samuel R G
SR
Finlayson
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003663:Decision Trees; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016712:Mupirocin