Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to global public health. Infections with resistant organisms are more challenging to treat, often delay patient recovery and can increase morbidity and mortality. Healthcare costs associated with treating patients with AMR organisms are poorly described. In particular, data for specific organisms, such as those harbouring carbapenem resistance, are lacking.
Methods: This was a retrospective, matched (1:1), single-centre, cohort study at a Central London hospital, comparing costs and resource use of 442 adult inpatients infected with either carbapenem-sensitive (CSO) or carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) over a two-year period. Resource use and micro-costing data were obtained from the hospital Patient, Education and Research Costing System (PERCS), and included both direct and indirect costs.
Results: Overall, the median healthcare-related cost of treating a patient with a CRO was more than double (£49,537 vs £19,299) that of treating a patient with a CSO. There were statistically significant increases in expenditure across 21 of 44 measured parameters including critical care costs, which accounted for the greatest proportion of overall costs in both groups. Infections were predominantly of the respiratory tract (41%) and caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (76%).
Conclusions: Infection with CROs increases healthcare expenditure significantly. Many of the costs, including patient support, portering and catering, have been underappreciated in previous work. We additionally note that patients infected with CROs have longer hospital stays, and increased theatre operating times compared with patients infected with CSOs.
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Carbapenem resistant enterobacterales; Cost-analysis; Health expenditure.
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