Infections linked to medical treatments are a universal problem, and impose a heavy burden on patients and their families: loss in the quality of life,loss of income, permanent health problems, and death.(World Health Organization, 2006). They also have become a heavy burden on public Health budgets and are increasingly costly due to resistant bacterias that require longer and more expensive treatments.Nosocomial infections create an extra burden to the health care system because the costs of treating infections are added to those of the original medical problem, or surgical procedure that resulted in the initial hospitalization.
In most countries, these costs have not been calculated precisely.However, knowing that these infections are avoidable with proper prevention and control measures,not preventing them is a real waste of public money when health expenses grudges a big chunk of a country total budget-Québec health budget represents 40% of the total province budget- Moreover, it costs the health care system 30% to 50% less to implement preventative measures than it does to treat nosocomial infections.
Canada nosocomial infections costs
As reported at the National Infectious Diseases Day - Ottawa 2008 - an NI generates additionnal costs ranging between 12000$ to 35 000$ per patient, a result similar to other studies in different western countries.For instance, In the United States, an NI average cost has been estimated at 15,275 US$; in France, the total NI cost ranges between 3 to 6 billions EU.
Quebec costs
The Aucouin committe(MSS April 2005) estimated the total cost of NI for Québec province at 180 millions dollars/year, based on old datas.The report also revealed the establishment of preventative measures reduced N.I.'s by 30%, and resulted in savings of 44 million dollars out of an annual cost of 144 million dollars.
The cost of N.I’s to Quebec is difficult to establish for the following reasons:
Lack of reliable data on the actual number of nosocomial infections. Only cases of C. difficile have been reported, and this has been done only since August 2000.
The structure of hospital budgets does not take specifically include costs related to the prevention and treatment of N.I.’s
Other countries
- In Geneva, Switzerland's CHU Hospitals, the total cost of antiseptic hand care products is less that one percent of the cost of treating nosocomial infections. Proper hand hygiene alone reduces infections by 50%.
- In Pennsylvania's Allegheny Hospital, the introduction of preventative measures reduced blood infections by 95%, and the death rate by 90%. In the year following the implementation of preventative measures, the hospital saved 1.4 million dollars.
By reducing nosocomial infections by 50%, the Quebec health care system could save as much as 70 to 80 million dollars. Moreover, six hundred hospital beds would be freed, which in turn would reduce pressure on emergency units. Waiting lists would be similarly reduced.
The Le Gardeur Hospital in Montreal is an excellent example of how preventative measures can significantly reduce costs. In April 2003, the hospital established a policy to ensure that all health care workers practiced proper hand hygiene. Although the initial cost of the program was $170,000, the hospital saved $811,000 because the infection rate had been significantly reduced. The SARM infections targeted by the policy had previously cost the hospital 1.5 million dollars annually. After preventative measures were introduced, the total number of infections was reduced by 50%. Specifically, blood infections were reduced by 69%, and the death rate by 71%.
Conclusion:
Money invested in preventative measures pays for itself many times over. The benefits are significant. Tens of thousands of infections can be avoided and thousands of deaths prevented. The savings generated by the introduction of preventative measures can be reinvested, thereby improving the efficiency, safety, and quality of health care. Prevention renders heath care services more accessible, relieves pressure on emergency units, and reduces waiting lists.
Read more:
«Stop Infection Deaths» - Consummers Union
RID organisation - USA
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