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Decision Analysis: A Tool for Infection Control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2017

Mary D. Nettleman*
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Epidemiology Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Hospital:s and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
*
Division of Clinical Epidermolgy, C41 GH, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242

Extract

Financial resources for health care have been restricted. Constraints demand that physicians and administrators get the most for their money, yet the myriad of diagnostic tests and antibiotics available today can easily boggle the minds of those who must choose among them. This situation is particularly true of infection control where active research continually produces new products. Each hospital must choose among disinfectants, detergents, antibiotics, protective clothing, immunizations, dressing supplies, respiratory therapies, and many other products. At every point, questions arise. Is a new product worth the extra money? Alternatively, is a less expensive product really more cost-effective? How many additional infections must be prevented before a product “pays” for itself?

Type
Special Sections
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1998

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