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Health and economic burden of antimicrobial-resistant infections in Australian hospitals: a population-based model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2019

Teresa M. Wozniak Open the ORCID record for Teresa M. Wozniak [Opens in a new window] ,
Emily J. Bailey  and
Nicholas Graves
Teresa M. Wozniak*
Affiliation:
Menzies School of Health Research, Royal Darwin Hospital, Rocklands Drive, Tiwi, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0810, Australia Centre for Research Excellence, Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections, Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
Emily J. Bailey
Affiliation:
Centre for Research Excellence, Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections, Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
Nicholas Graves
Affiliation:
Centre for Research Excellence, Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections, Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Teresa M. Wozniak, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

To estimate the additional health and economic burden of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections in Australian hospitals.

Methods:

A simulation model based on existing evidence was developed to assess the additional mortality and costs of healthcare-associated AMR Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecium, and Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Setting:

Australian public hospitals.

Findings:

Australian hospitals spent an additional AUD$5.8 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI], $2.2–$11.2 million) per year treating ceftriaxone-resistant E.coli bloodstream infections (BSI), and an estimated AUD$5.5 million per year (95% UI, $339,633–$22.7 million) treating MRSA patients. There are no reliable estimates of excess morbidity and mortality from AMR infections in sites other than the blood and in particular for highly prevalent AMR E. coli causing urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Conclusion:

The limited evidence-base of the health impact of resistant infection in UTIs limits economic studies estimating the overall burden of AMR. Such data are increasingly important and are urgently needed to support local clinical practice as well as national and global efforts to curb the spread of AMR.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 40 , Issue 3 , March 2019 , pp. 320 - 327
Copyright
© 2019 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved. 

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