[Comparative study of the cost-effectiveness of initial therapy with imipenem/cilastatin in secondary peritonitis]

The total costs of the hospital treatment of patients with secondary peritonitis were investigated with a prospective, randomized, multicenter study. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of an initial therapy with Imipenem/Cilastatin was compared to selected alternative antibiotic regimens. Altogether 154 patients (77 Imipenem/Cilastatin group, 77 alternative group) that displayed Mannheim Peritonitis Scores between 16 and 26 (average 20.8) were analyzed. The average total cost of treatment was DM 11,140 per patient (range DM 2794-45,526). Patients receiving an initial therapy with Imipenem/Cilastatin incurred average costs of DM 10,455, while patients with alternative regimens caused average costs of DM 11,826. The difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant (P = 0.037).