An Exploratory Analysis of the Association between Healthcare Associated Infections & Hospital Financial Performance.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Infectious Disease Control
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) impose a substantial financial burden on US hospitals.
• Treatments for HAIs increase length of stay and operational costs, reducing profit margins.
• Understanding the link between HAIs and financial performance is crucial for resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between specific HAIs and hospital financial performance.
• To provide insights for hospital leaders to optimize resource use for HAI reduction.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1454 US short-term acute care hospitals for calendar year 2022.
• Multiple linear regression used to examine operating expense per staffed bed and per discharge.
• Independent variables included rates of MRSA, C. diff, CAUTI, and CLABSI, with control variables.

Main Results:

• C. diff and CAUTI rates positively correlated with increased operating expense per staffed bed.
• MRSA, C. diff, and CAUTI rates correlated with increased operating expenses per discharge.
• Specific HAIs demonstrate a significant association with elevated hospital costs.

Conclusions:

• Certain HAIs are linked to higher hospital expenses.
• Targeted interventions against specific HAIs can potentially lower costs.
• Reducing HAIs may lead to improved financial performance and economic stability for hospitals.