title: CDC central-line bloodstream infection prevention efforts produced net benefits of at least $640 Million during 1990-2008.
abstract: The prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections in patients in hospital critical care units has been a target of efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since the 1960s. We developed a historical economic model to measure the net economic benefits of preventing these infections in Medicare and Medicaid patients in critical care units for the period 1990-2008-a time when reductions attributable to federal investment resulted primarily from CDC efforts-using the cost perspective of the federal government as a third-party payer. The estimated net economic benefits ranged from $640 million to $1.8 billion, with the corresponding net benefits per case averted ranging from $15,780 to $24,391. The per dollar rate of return on the CDC's investments ranged from $3.88 to $23.85. These findings suggest that investments in CDC programs targeting other health care-associated infections also have the potential to produce savings by lowering Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
authors.affiliation: R. Douglas Scott II (DScott1@cdc.gov) is an economist in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: R Douglas
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Ronda Sinkowitz-Cochran is a behavioral scientist in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC.
authors.forename: Ronda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinkowitz-Cochran
authors.affiliation: Matthew E. Wise is an epidemiologist in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, CDC.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.affiliation: James Baggs is an epidemiologist in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baggs
authors.affiliation: Scott Goates was an economist in the Office of the Assistant Director for Policy, CDC, at the time of this research. He is now health economics and outcomes research manager, Abbott Nutrition, in Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goates
authors.affiliation: Steven L. Solomon is director of the Office of Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: L. Clifford McDonald is senior adviser for science and integrity, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC.
authors.forename: L Clifford
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: John A. Jernigan is director of the Office of Prevention Research and Evaluation, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jernigan
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000191:economics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics*; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics*; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics*; D018803:Models, Economic; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D014481:United States
keywords: Health Economics; Health Spending; Hospitals; Medicaid; Medicare