2015 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 91-96
The cost-effectiveness of measures for preventing the spread of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in our hospital were assessed by costs of the consumption of gloves (pieces/patient-days), aprons (pieces/patient-days), alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) (mL/patient-days) and antibiotics in the period 2006–2009. A new nosocomial MRSA case, including colonized or infected patients, was defined as a MRSA case if the patient had no known history of MRSA before admission. Patients were excluded from MRSA cases if a clinical culture was positive for MRSA within 48 hours of admission. The hospital charges related to MRSA infection were calculated. The number of cases of MRSA in 2009 (about 100) was decreased compared with 2006. Hospital charge related to MRSA infection was about 67 million yen in 2006 and about 27 million yen in 2009. A statistically significant correlation was observed between number of MRSA cases and consumption of gloves, aprons and ABHRs, which indicated number of cases of MRSA was inversely related to standard precautions and hand hygiene. The costs of consumption of gloves, aprons and ABHRs in 2009 increased by about 58 million yen, about 330 yen/patient/day, compared with 2006, indicating the costs to reduce the number of MRSA cases. However, if additional charges for infection control were accepted in 2009, infection control would be enhanced in the hospital.
