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Statewide Costs of Healthcare-Associated Infections: Estimates for Acute Care Hospitals in North Carolina
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9 2013
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Source: Am J Infect Control. 2013; 41(9):764-768
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Alternative Title:Am J Infect Control
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Description:Background
State-specific healthcare-associated infection (HAI) cost estimates have not been calculated to guide Department of Public Health efforts and investments.
Methods
We completed a cost identification study by conducting a survey of 117 acute care hospitals in NC hospitals to collect surveillance data on patient-days, device-days, and surgical procedures during a one-year. We then calculated expected rates and direct hospital costs of surgical site infections (SSI), C. difficile infection and 3 selected device-related HAIs for hospitals and the entire state using reference datasets such as the National Heatlhcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Results
In total, 67 (53%) hospitals responded to the survey. The median bed size of respondent hospitals was 140 (IQR 66–350). A “standard” NC hospital diagnoses approximately 100 HAI each year with estimated costs of $985,000 to $2.7 million. The most common HAI was SSI (73%). Costs related to SSI accounted for 87% to 91% of overall costs. In total, the overall direct annual cost of these five selected HAIs was estimated to be between $124.1 and $347.8 million in 2009 for the State of NC.
Conclusions
Using conservative estimates, HAI led to costs of more than $100 million in acute care hospitals in the State of NC in 2009. The majority of costs were due to SSI.
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Pubmed ID:23453162
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC3724767
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