title: Cost-benefit analysis from the hospital perspective of universal active screening followed by contact precautions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the economic impact to a hospital of universal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening. METHODS We used a decision tree model to estimate the direct economic impact to an individual hospital of starting universal MRSA screening and contact precautions. Projected costs and benefits were based on literature-derived data. Our model examined outcomes of several strategies including non-nares MRSA screening and comparison of culture versus polymerase chain reaction-based screening. RESULTS Under baseline conditions, the costs of universal MRSA screening and contact precautions outweighed the projected benefits generated by preventing MRSA-related infections, resulting in economic costs of $104,000 per 10,000 admissions (95% CI, $83,000-$126,000). Cost-savings occurred only when the model used estimates at the extremes of our key parameters. Non-nares screening and polymerase chain reaction-based testing, both of which identified more MRSA-colonized persons, resulted in more MRSA infections averted but increased economic costs of the screening program. CONCLUSIONS We found that universal MRSA screening, although providing potential benefit in preventing MRSA infection, is relatively costly and may be economically burdensome for a hospital. Policy makers should consider the economic burden of MRSA screening and contact precautions in relation to other interventions when choosing programs to improve patient safety and outcomes.
authors: 1Infectious Disease Clinical Outcomes Research Unit,Division of Infectious Disease,Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute,Harbor-UCLA Medical Center,Torrance,California.
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: McKinnell
authors: 3Public Health Computational and Operations Research Group (PHICOR),Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors: Sarah M
authors: SM
authors: Bartsch
authors: 3Public Health Computational and Operations Research Group (PHICOR),Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors: Bruce Y
authors: BY
authors: Lee
authors: 5Division of Infectious Diseases and Health Policy Research Institute,University of California,Irvine School of Medicine,Irvine,California.
authors: Susan S
authors: SS
authors: Huang
authors: 1Infectious Disease Clinical Outcomes Research Unit,Division of Infectious Disease,Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute,Harbor-UCLA Medical Center,Torrance,California.
authors: Loren G
authors: LG
authors: Miller
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control
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