SSIs - analysis of self-report data and economic impact.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Economics
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Surgical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a significant challenge in healthcare, leading to increased patient morbidity and elevated financial costs for institutions.
• The economic impact of SSIs is multifaceted, encompassing prolonged hospital stays and the need for additional medical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) within the Czech Republic.
• To evaluate the impact of SSIs on hospital length of stay and associated economic burden.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 2,134 hospitalizations from January 2021 to December 2024, classified by CZ-DRG for SSIs.
• Data collection included length of stay, reoperation rates, and duration for SSI-complicated cases (9.93% of total).

Main Results:

• SSI cases constituted 9.93% of all hospitalizations but accounted for 25.3% of total hospital days.
• The economic impact of SSIs was substantial, reflected in a case-mix of 24.07%, requiring 19.66% of operations and 16.43% of operating time.

Conclusions:

• Surgical site infections present a dual medical and economic problem, with significant financial implications beyond initial reimbursement.
• Additional costs from prolonged hospitalization and reoperations in SSI cases are not fully covered by current reimbursement structures.