Impact of nosocomial infections on hospital costs

Modifications in antibiotic programs for treatment of nosocomial infections can result in significant cost savings within a hospital. Most hospitals initially treat nosocomial infections empirically, based on their epidemiologic history. Designed to be effective against a broad range of possible pathogens, this type of therapy usually includes two or more drugs administered parenterally. This is expensive because the total cost of treatment includes the cost of not only multiple drug therapy but also the materials and labor needed to prepare and administer them. "Streamlining of therapy" to a single oral or parenteral agent can usually be done once more definitive information is known about the pathogen and the patient's condition. This approach maximizes therapeutic effectiveness and reduces costs. Streamlining therapy for nosocomial infections has helped Hartford Hospital decrease the antibiotic budget from 30 to 15% of the total drug budget, resulting in annual cost savings of $150,000 to $250,000.