Financial Burden Caused by an Outbreak of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in a Growing Care Unit

Abstract

We experienced an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a growing care unit (GCU) and estimated the financial burden from the cost required for treatment and the decrease in hospital revenue that was assumed to have been affected by the outbreak. A total of 5 patients developed RSV infection, and all patients were isolated in the pediatric ward and ICU. The GCU was closed for 2 weeks, and admission to the pediatric ward and ICU was restricted for 5 weeks. The estimated cost of treatment was 5.18 million yen, whereas the decrease in monthly hospital revenue for the Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics from the average monthly revenue of the same month for the last 5 years was 17.45 million yen. Early detection of affected individuals, early use of palivizumab, and arranging an isolation room in newborn wards may reduce the financial burden caused by the outbreak of RSV infection.