The incremental cost of infections associated with multidrug‐resistant organisms in the inpatient hospital setting—A national estimate

Objective

To estimate the cost of infections associated with multidrug‐resistant organisms (s) during inpatient hospitalization in the United States.

Data Sources/Study Setting

2014 National Inpatient Sample.

Study Design

Multivariable regression models assessed the incremental effect of s on the cost of hospitalization and hospital length of stay among patients with bacterial infections.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We retrospectively identified 6 385 258 inpatient stays for patients with bacterial infection.

Principal Findings

The national incidence rate of inpatient stays with bacterial infection is 20.1 percent. At least 10.8 percent of such stays—and as many as 16.9 percent if we account for undercoded infections—show evidence of one or more s. ,, infection with another , and the presence of more than one are associated with $1718 (95% , $1609‐$1826), $4617 (95% , $4407‐$4827), $2302 (95% , $2044‐$2560), and $3570 (95% , $3019‐$4122) in additional costs per stay, respectively. The national cost of infections associated with s is at least $2.39 billion (95% , $2.25‐$2.52 billion) and as high as $3.38 billion (95% , $3.13‐$3.62 billion) if we account for undercoded infections.

Conclusions

Infections associated with s result in a substantial cost burden to the health care system.