title: Economic evaluation of chlorhexidine cloths on healthcare costs due to surgical site infections following total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall annual healthcare cost savings of adding a pre-operative chlorhexidine cloth preparation protocol. We used reports from the National Healthcare Safety Network and previously published reports to determine a range of surgical site infection rates following total knee arthroplasty and the cost per revision procedure. The savings listed are potential, but may be less. The cost benefit of using chlorhexidine at our institution per 1,000 total knee arthroplasty patients was a net savings of approximately $2.1 million. The annual healthcare savings ranged from $0.78 to $3.18 billion. This epidemiologic evaluation of using chlorhexidine prior to undergoing total knee arthroplasty has demonstrated the potential to decrease healthcare costs primarily by decreasing the incidence of surgical site infections.
authors.affiliation: Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA.
authors.forename: Bhaveen H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kapadia
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kimona
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mont
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000191:economics; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: chlorhexidine cloths; chlorhexidine gluconate; healthcare costs; periprosthetic joint infection; surgical site infection; total knee arthroplasty