OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship Teams (ASTs) on the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with nosocomial bacteraemia. METHODS: A decision analytic model compared costs and outcomes of bacteraemic patients receiving standard treatment with or without an AST consult. Patients with a bacteraemic event during their hospital admission were included in the model. Effectiveness was estimated as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over the lifetime of patients. Model variables and costs, along with their distributions, were obtained from the literature and expert opinion. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated to estimate the cost per QALY gained from the hospital perspective. Uncertainty in ICERs was evaluated with probabilistic sensitivity analyses. The cost-effectiveness of clinical decision support systems was evaluated as a secondary analysis. RESULTS: Implementing an AST for bacteraemia review cost $39,737 (95% CI $27,272-53, 017) and standard treatment cost $39,563 (95% CI $27,164-52,797). The difference in effectiveness between the two strategies was 0.08 QALYs, and the base case ICER from the probabilistic analysis was $2367 per QALY gained [95% CI dominant (less costly, more effective) to $24,379]. Results from the probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated there was more than a 90% likelihood that an AST would be cost-effective at a level of $10,000 per QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining an AST to improve care for bacteraemia is cost-effective from the hospital perspective. The estimate of $2367 per QALY gained for the AST intervention compares favourably with many currently funded healthcare interventions and services.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship Teams (ASTs) on the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with nosocomial bacteraemia. METHODS: A decision analytic model compared costs and outcomes of bacteraemic patients receiving standard treatment with or without an AST consult. Patients with a bacteraemic event during their hospital admission were included in the model. Effectiveness was estimated as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over the lifetime of patients. Model variables and costs, along with their distributions, were obtained from the literature and expert opinion. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated to estimate the cost per QALY gained from the hospital perspective. Uncertainty in ICERs was evaluated with probabilistic sensitivity analyses. The cost-effectiveness of clinical decision support systems was evaluated as a secondary analysis. RESULTS: Implementing an AST for bacteraemia review cost $39,737 (95% CI $27,272-53, 017) and standard treatment cost $39,563 (95% CI $27,164-52,797). The difference in effectiveness between the two strategies was 0.08 QALYs, and the base case ICER from the probabilistic analysis was $2367 per QALY gained [95% CI dominant (less costly, more effective) to $24,379]. Results from the probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated there was more than a 90% likelihood that an AST would be cost-effective at a level of $10,000 per QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining an AST to improve care for bacteraemia is cost-effective from the hospital perspective. The estimate of $2367 per QALY gained for the AST intervention compares favourably with many currently funded healthcare interventions and services.
Authors: Simon W J Gould; Paul Cuschieri; Jess Rollason; Anthony C Hilton; Sue Easmon; Mark D Fielder Journal: Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob Date: 2010-07-21 Impact factor: 3.944
Authors: Jan-Willem H Dik; Ron Hendrix; Alex W Friedrich; Jos Luttjeboer; Prashant Nannan Panday; Kasper R Wilting; Jerome R Lo-Ten-Foe; Maarten J Postma; Bhanu Sinha Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-05-08 Impact factor: 3.240