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.
- aged,
- analysis,
- and
- audit,
- aureus,
- control,
- cost
- costs
- costs,
- department,
- female,
- hospital
- humans,
- infection
- infections,
- isolation,
- male,
- medical
- methicillin
- middle
- patient
- resistance,
- staphylococcal
- staphylococcus
- surgery
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