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Staphylococcus infection
Photo by Bill Branson
Ambulatory bloodstream infections (BSIs) can be costly in young cancer patients and recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants, according to research published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer.
Among the 61 patients studied, the median cost for an ambulatory BSI was $40,852, and the median length of hospital stay was 7 days.
For patients who were hospitalized for BSI and other medical issues, the cost and length of stay were much higher.
“This issue has resonance beyond the pediatric stem cell transplant and oncology patient population,” said study author Amy Billett, MD, of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts.
“At a time when many aspects of care are being shifted to the home and of heightened attention to safety and cost, this is the new frontier. What we learn about preventing outpatient bloodstream infections in these patients could have broad relevance.”
To determine the economic and hospitalization impact of ambulatory BSIs, Dr Billet and her colleagues retrospectively analyzed data on outpatient BSIs at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s that occurred between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, and resulted in hospitalization.
The team identified 74 BSIs in 61 patients. Sixty-nine percent of these infections were classified as central-line-associated bloodstream infections.
In 43% of BSIs, the patient’s central line had to be surgically removed. In 15% of cases, the child was transferred to the intensive care unit. Four patients died during hospitalization, and 3 of these deaths were associated with the infections.
Most of the hospitalizations analyzed—62—were due solely to BSIs. The remainder involved at least 1 other medical issue.
The median total cost of BSIs was $40,852, and the median length of hospital stay was 7 days.
The median cost was $36,611 among patients who were hospitalized for BSIs alone (n=62) and $89,935 for patients who were hospitalized for other medical issues as well. The median lengths of hospital stay were 6 days and 15 days, respectively.
The top 3 drivers of cost for all BSIs were room and board (43%), non-chemotherapy medications (22%), and procedures (11%).
Room and board accounted for 42% of charges among patients who were hospitalized for BSIs alone and 44% among the other patients. Non-chemotherapy medications accounted for 20% and 25%, respectively. And procedures accounted for 11% and 10%, respectively.
“Behind these metrics are real and serious risks to patients’ health,” said study author Chris Wong, MD, of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s.
“The bottom line is that the dollar cost and lengthy hospital stays signal complications that could become life-threatening or delay treatment of the children’s cancer. Reducing these infections is important both for cost containment and quality of care.” 
Staphylococcus infection
Photo by Bill Branson
Ambulatory bloodstream infections (BSIs) can be costly in young cancer patients and recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants, according to research published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer.
Among the 61 patients studied, the median cost for an ambulatory BSI was $40,852, and the median length of hospital stay was 7 days.
For patients who were hospitalized for BSI and other medical issues, the cost and length of stay were much higher.
“This issue has resonance beyond the pediatric stem cell transplant and oncology patient population,” said study author Amy Billett, MD, of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts.
“At a time when many aspects of care are being shifted to the home and of heightened attention to safety and cost, this is the new frontier. What we learn about preventing outpatient bloodstream infections in these patients could have broad relevance.”
To determine the economic and hospitalization impact of ambulatory BSIs, Dr Billet and her colleagues retrospectively analyzed data on outpatient BSIs at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s that occurred between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, and resulted in hospitalization.
The team identified 74 BSIs in 61 patients. Sixty-nine percent of these infections were classified as central-line-associated bloodstream infections.
In 43% of BSIs, the patient’s central line had to be surgically removed. In 15% of cases, the child was transferred to the intensive care unit. Four patients died during hospitalization, and 3 of these deaths were associated with the infections.
Most of the hospitalizations analyzed—62—were due solely to BSIs. The remainder involved at least 1 other medical issue.
The median total cost of BSIs was $40,852, and the median length of hospital stay was 7 days.
The median cost was $36,611 among patients who were hospitalized for BSIs alone (n=62) and $89,935 for patients who were hospitalized for other medical issues as well. The median lengths of hospital stay were 6 days and 15 days, respectively.
The top 3 drivers of cost for all BSIs were room and board (43%), non-chemotherapy medications (22%), and procedures (11%).
Room and board accounted for 42% of charges among patients who were hospitalized for BSIs alone and 44% among the other patients. Non-chemotherapy medications accounted for 20% and 25%, respectively. And procedures accounted for 11% and 10%, respectively.
“Behind these metrics are real and serious risks to patients’ health,” said study author Chris Wong, MD, of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s.
“The bottom line is that the dollar cost and lengthy hospital stays signal complications that could become life-threatening or delay treatment of the children’s cancer. Reducing these infections is important both for cost containment and quality of care.”
Staphylococcus infection
Photo by Bill Branson
Ambulatory bloodstream infections (BSIs) can be costly in young cancer patients and recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants, according to research published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer.
Among the 61 patients studied, the median cost for an ambulatory BSI was $40,852, and the median length of hospital stay was 7 days.
For patients who were hospitalized for BSI and other medical issues, the cost and length of stay were much higher.
“This issue has resonance beyond the pediatric stem cell transplant and oncology patient population,” said study author Amy Billett, MD, of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts.
“At a time when many aspects of care are being shifted to the home and of heightened attention to safety and cost, this is the new frontier. What we learn about preventing outpatient bloodstream infections in these patients could have broad relevance.”
To determine the economic and hospitalization impact of ambulatory BSIs, Dr Billet and her colleagues retrospectively analyzed data on outpatient BSIs at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s that occurred between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, and resulted in hospitalization.
The team identified 74 BSIs in 61 patients. Sixty-nine percent of these infections were classified as central-line-associated bloodstream infections.
In 43% of BSIs, the patient’s central line had to be surgically removed. In 15% of cases, the child was transferred to the intensive care unit. Four patients died during hospitalization, and 3 of these deaths were associated with the infections.
Most of the hospitalizations analyzed—62—were due solely to BSIs. The remainder involved at least 1 other medical issue.
The median total cost of BSIs was $40,852, and the median length of hospital stay was 7 days.
The median cost was $36,611 among patients who were hospitalized for BSIs alone (n=62) and $89,935 for patients who were hospitalized for other medical issues as well. The median lengths of hospital stay were 6 days and 15 days, respectively.
The top 3 drivers of cost for all BSIs were room and board (43%), non-chemotherapy medications (22%), and procedures (11%).
Room and board accounted for 42% of charges among patients who were hospitalized for BSIs alone and 44% among the other patients. Non-chemotherapy medications accounted for 20% and 25%, respectively. And procedures accounted for 11% and 10%, respectively.
“Behind these metrics are real and serious risks to patients’ health,” said study author Chris Wong, MD, of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s.
“The bottom line is that the dollar cost and lengthy hospital stays signal complications that could become life-threatening or delay treatment of the children’s cancer. Reducing these infections is important both for cost containment and quality of care.”