title: Cost-Analysis of Seven Nosocomial Outbreaks in an Academic Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nosocomial outbreaks, especially with (multi-)resistant microorganisms, are a major problem for health care institutions. They can cause morbidity and mortality for patients and controlling these costs substantial amounts of funds and resources. However, how much is unclear. This study sets out to provide a comparable overview of the costs of multiple outbreaks in a single academic hospital in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on interviews with the involved staff, multiple databases and stored records from the Infection Prevention Division all actions undertaken, extra staff employment, use of resources, bed-occupancy rates, and other miscellaneous cost drivers during different outbreaks were scored and quantified into Euros. This led to total costs per outbreak and an estimated average cost per positive patient per outbreak day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven outbreaks that occurred between 2012 and 2014 in the hospital were evaluated. Total costs for the hospital ranged between €10,778 and €356,754. Costs per positive patient per outbreak day, ranged between €10 and €1,369 (95% CI: €49-€1,042), with a mean of €546 and a median of €519. Majority of the costs (50%) were made because of closed beds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis is the first to give a comparable overview of various outbreaks, caused by different microorganisms, in the same hospital and all analyzed with the same method. It shows a large variation within the average costs due to different factors (e.g. closure of wards, type of ward). All outbreaks however cost considerable amounts of efforts and money (up to €356,754), including missed revenue and control measures.
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Jan-Willem H
authors: JW
authors: Dik
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors: Ariane G
authors: AG
authors: Dinkelacker
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Unit of PharmacoEpidemiology & PharmacoEconomics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.|Institute of Science in Healthy Aging & healthcaRE (SHARE), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Pepijn
authors: P
authors: Vemer
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Jerome R
authors: JR
authors: Lo-Ten-Foe
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Mariëtte
authors: M
authors: Lokate
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Bhanu
authors: B
authors: Sinha
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Alex W
authors: AW
authors: Friedrich
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Unit of PharmacoEpidemiology & PharmacoEconomics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.|Institute of Science in Healthy Aging & healthcaRE (SHARE), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Maarten J
authors: MJ
authors: Postma
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands