New study estimates the economic impacts of multidrug-resistant infections in the United States

Researchers recently performed a retrospective cohort study within the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system and found that costs attributable to multidrug-resistant infections ranged from nearly $31,000 per hospitalization to more than $74,000. Overall, hospital- and community-acquired infections were estimated to cost approximately $4.6 billion in the U.S. in 2017. Out of the hospital-acquired infections examined, the largest costs in patients were seen among multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas cultures (at $208,836 per patient) and the largest costs among community-acquired infections were attributable to carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter ($104,264 per patient). Overall, however, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus accounted for the largest portion of hospital-acquired infection costs ($1.2 billion) while extended spectrum beta-lactamase accounted for the largest community-acquired infection costs. And as a whole, aggregate community-acquired infections accounted for greater costs than hospital acquired ones ($2.7 vs. $1.9 billion), but were also more prevalent. Non-invasive infections were also found to account for a larger total cost than invasive infections ($2.8 vs. 1.8 billion). As a result of these findings, researchers highlight the substantial economic impact of antimicrobial resistance--both at the individual and aggregate levels—as well as the need to reduce transmission of these pathogens.

Estimating costs of improving water, sanitation, and hygiene across Indian healthcare facilities

While water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services remain crucial to infection prevention and control, as well as the rise of antimicrobial resistant infections, healthcare facilities across low- and middle-income countries have struggled to secure access to these services. In India, researchers have recently found that, in one year alone, upgrading public facilities to improve WASH services would cost more than $350 million up-front, on top of an additional $289 million in annual costs. The majority (64.4%) of these needs would be directed towards rural healthcare facilities. Providing water services and sanitation accounted for the greatest costs ($238 million and $104 million, respectively), whereas interventions such as environmental surface cleanings were among the least costly interventions ($80 million). Overall, the researchers note that while increased WASH services are necessary in preventing healthcare-acquired infections, especially among rural healthcare facilities, implementation of these services will require long-term coordinated efforts from both national and subnational governments.