Economic burden of surgical site infections in patients undergoing cardiac surgery†

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the additional costs and length of stay (LOS) due to surgical site infections (SSIs) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at Jena University Hospital.

Methods: The data of 999 consecutive patients who underwent CABG from January 2013 to December 2014 were collected. We extracted the number, type and duration of antimicrobial therapy and V.A.C.® therapy (negative pressure wound therapy) treatments and calculated the additional SSI-related costs based on the hospital's perspective. We also evaluated the prolongation of LOS using a multistate model and calculated the costs due to the additional LOS.

Results: In total, 983 patients were included in our analysis, and 126 patients with SSIs following CABG were identified during the study period; 124 patients with SSIs (98.4%) were discharged alive. The mean cost of antimicrobial therapy to treat the SSIs was €818 [95% confidence interval (CI) 392-1245], and the mean cost of V.A.C. therapy was €1179 (95% CI 748-1610) per infected patient. The mean additional LOS due to SSIs (±standard error) was estimated to be 9.3 ± 2.6 days. The cost per SSI-infected patient attributable to the additional LOS was €9444 (95% CI 4242-14 645).

Conclusions: SSIs following CABG are associated with an additional LOS and a significant economic burden depending on the classification of SSI. A very important component of the additional cost is the prolongation of LOS. Therefore, it is essential to shorten the hospital stay due to SSIs as far as possible.