The Economic Impact of Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs)

In the UK Healthcare associated infection represents a significant financial and management burden for the healthcare system, and for the wider national economy. The cost of treating infections such as bacteraemias associated with central lines, or surgical site infections are not funded within existing hospital procedure tariffs.

Back in 2000 the National Audit Office showed that HCAIs:¹⁰

• Affect 9% of hospitalized patients
• Cause 5,000 deaths annually (1% of all deaths)
• Contribute to an additional 15,000 deaths annually (3% of all deaths)
• Cost approximately £1 billion annually
• Post-discharge infection rates are not reported

Hospital-acquired bloodstream infection increased in-patient cost more than four-fold in a UK general hospital¹¹ The average additional cost of a hospital-acquired bloodstream infection is over £6200.¹⁰

Enturia can help you input your own trust or department data into a health economic model to explore the potential for ChloraPrep to reduce infections and costs.The model was developed by Fourth Hurdle in consultation with the John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford.  The model is evidence based, and all the variables can be adjusted to reflect local practice and audit data.

The cost effectiveness of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol in the prevention of central venous access device-related infections in patients admitted to ITU.

• ChloraPrep was both more effective at prevention of CVAD-RI and resulted in lower costs than use of currently available products.¹²
• ChloraPrep resulted in significant per patient cost saving relative to povidone iodine (PI) of £714 and a trend towards cost saving when compared with 0.5% CHG £254.¹²

Back to Top