%0 Journal Article %1 herr_additional_2003 %A Herr, Caroline Eva Wella %A Heckrodt, Thomas Hilarius %A Hofmann, Frank Andreas %A Schnettler, Reinhard %A Eikmann, Thomas Friedrich %D 2003 %J Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology: The Official Journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America %K Aged, Analysis, Audit, Control, Cost Costs Costs, Department, Female, Hospital Humans, Infection Infections, Isolation, Male, Medical Methicillin Middle Patient Resistance, Staphylococcal Staphylococcus Surgery and aureus, %N 9 %P 673--678 %R 10.1086/502274 %T Additional costs for preventing the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and a strategy for reducing these costs on a surgical ward %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14510250 %V 24 %X OBJECTIVE: To determine the added costs of hygienic measures (barrier precautions, isolation, and decontamination) required for MRSA carriers in German hospitals and possible strategies for cost reduction. DESIGN: On a septic surgical ward caring for 35\% of all MRSA cases in a university hospital (1,182 beds), additional costs for personnel time and materials were calculated and medical charts of all MRSA cases admitted to the ward during 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. Twelve of the ward's 13 beds were located in rooms with at least 2 beds. PATIENTS: Four hundred ninety-eight MRSA carrier hospital-days (of 20 MRSA cases) could be assessed. All patients (80\% men, 50\% older than 74.5 years) had broken skin. RESULTS: In 95\% of the cases, microbiological findings suggested transmission of MRSA during the current or a previous stay on this ward. The study found total avoidable costs of approximately 142,794.01 euros in 1 year, averaging 371.95 euros for one MRSA patient hospital-day and 9,261.56 euros per MRSA case. The most expensive single measure was blocked beds in multibed rooms (305.75 euros/day), which accounted for 82\% of the extra costs. Costs most likely were underestimated. CONCLUSIONS: Daily additional case costs amounted to 96\% of social security payments. Blocked beds in multibed rooms accounted for more than 80\% of these excess costs. Isolation has been scientifically validated and is required by law in Germany. Building an adequate number of single-bed rooms should help prevent spread and would greatly lower the added costs of infection.

@article{herr_additional_2003, abstract = {{OBJECTIVE:} To determine the added costs of hygienic measures (barrier precautions, isolation, and decontamination) required for {MRSA} carriers in German hospitals and possible strategies for cost reduction. {DESIGN:} On a septic surgical ward caring for 35\% of all {MRSA} cases in a university hospital (1,182 beds), additional costs for personnel time and materials were calculated and medical charts of all {MRSA} cases admitted to the ward during 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. Twelve of the ward's 13 beds were located in rooms with at least 2 beds. {PATIENTS:} Four hundred ninety-eight {MRSA} carrier hospital-days (of 20 {MRSA} cases) could be assessed. All patients (80\% men, 50\% older than 74.5 years) had broken skin. {RESULTS:} In 95\% of the cases, microbiological findings suggested transmission of {MRSA} during the current or a previous stay on this ward. The study found total avoidable costs of approximately 142,794.01 euros in 1 year, averaging 371.95 euros for one {MRSA} patient hospital-day and 9,261.56 euros per {MRSA} case. The most expensive single measure was blocked beds in multibed rooms (305.75 euros/day), which accounted for 82\% of the extra costs. Costs most likely were underestimated. {CONCLUSIONS:} Daily additional case costs amounted to 96\% of social security payments. Blocked beds in multibed rooms accounted for more than 80\% of these excess costs. Isolation has been scientifically validated and is required by law in Germany. Building an adequate number of single-bed rooms should help prevent spread and would greatly lower the added costs of infection.}, added-at = {2011-03-11T10:05:34.000+0100}, author = {Herr, Caroline Eva Wella and Heckrodt, Thomas Hilarius and Hofmann, Frank Andreas and Schnettler, Reinhard and Eikmann, Thomas Friedrich}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2c100ee38a828c8a218616e67f6d969cd/jelias}, doi = {10.1086/502274}, interhash = {2de8c14bd1abf907c744bba26ddb3776}, intrahash = {c100ee38a828c8a218616e67f6d969cd}, issn = {{0899-823X}}, journal = {Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology: The Official Journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America}, keywords = {Aged, Analysis, Audit, Control, Cost Costs Costs, Department, Female, Hospital Humans, Infection Infections, Isolation, Male, Medical Methicillin Middle Patient Resistance, Staphylococcal Staphylococcus Surgery and aureus,}, month = sep, note = {{PMID:} 14510250}, number = 9, pages = {673--678}, timestamp = {2011-03-11T10:06:00.000+0100}, title = {Additional costs for preventing the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and a strategy for reducing these costs on a surgical ward}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14510250}, volume = 24, year = 2003 }