Costs associated with hospital-acquired bacteraemia in an Indian hospital: a case-control study

Studies from around the world have shown that hospital-acquired infections increase the costs of medical care, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine cost and attributable mortality associated with hospital-acquired bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre in India. This was a retrospective case-control, cost utility analysis set in the cardiothoracic unit of a 200-bedded tertiary care cardiac hospital. Cases included adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve replacement surgery who developed bacteraemia (indicated by positive blood cultures) during postoperative stay (N=24). Controls were age- and sex-matched adult patients who underwent similar procedures but who did not develop bacteraemia (N=48). Data were collected from patient medical records and other administrative databases for cost analysis. Prolongation of hospital stay, attributable mortality and extra costs associated with hospital-acquired bacteraemia were analysed. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher's exact test and unpaired t-test. Patients with hospital-acquired bacteraemia experienced a significantly longer total hospital stay [mean: 22.9 days; 95% confidence interval (CI): 17.2-28.6; P<0.0001], significantly longer ICU stay (mean: 11.3 days; 95% CI: 9.0-13.6; P<0.0001), a significantly higher mortality (mean: 54%; P<0.0001) and cost significantly more (mean: US $14,818; 95% CI: 10,663-18,974; P<0.0001) than controls. We conclude that hospital-acquired bacteraemia significantly increases mortality and costs of hospitalisation in lower income developing countries. Our study demonstrates that costs associated with HAIs are similar between developing and developed countries. Better infection control planning and infrastructure may offset some of these costs.