Nosocomial infections among acute leukemia patients in China: An economic burden analysis

The economic burden associated nosocomial infections (NIs) in patients with acute leukemia (AL) in China was unclear. A prospective study was conducted to quantify the medical cost burden of NIs among AL patients.

Nine hundred ninety-four patients diagnosed with AL between January 2011 and December 2013 were included. Relevant necessary information was extracted from the hospital information system and hospital infection surveillance system. The primary outcome was incidence of NIs and the secondary was economic burden results, including extra medical costs and prolonged length of stay (LOS). We estimated the total incremental cost of NIs by comparing all-cause health care costs in patients with versus without infections. Prolonged duration of stay was compared in patients with different infections.

Of 994 patients with AL, 277 (27.9%) experienced NIs. NI was associated with a total incremental cost of $3,092 per patient ($5,227 vs $2,135; P < .01) and infected patients experienced a longer LOS (21 vs 10 days; P < .01). Patients with multisite infection had the highest total medical cost ($8,474.90 vs $2,209.90; P < .01) and the longest LOS (25 vs 15 days; P < .01). Western medicine was the main contributor to the rise of total cost in all kinds of infections.

NI was associated with higher medical costs, which imposed an economic burden on patients with AL. The study highlights the influence of NIs on LOS and health care costs and appeal to the establishment of prophylactic measures for NIs to reduce the unnecessary waste of medical resources in the long run.