Question

Fill in the blanks: Name at least two factors that increase the cost of care for hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infection 1.______________________________________________ 2.______________________________________________ 3.______________________________________________

Short answer

1. Extended use of expensive drugs. 2. Enhanced patient care with more medical attention. 3. Prolonged length of hospital stay.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying First Factor

The first factor is the extended use of drugs. This pertains to the extra medications that are needed to treat infections, especially for antibiotic-resistant strains. Often, these medications are more expensive

Identifying Second Factor

The second factor is the increased nursing care and intensified medical attention. Patients with these infections require enhanced patient care that includes thorough diagnosis, advanced treatments, frequent monitoring, and even isolation in some cases.

Identifying Third Factor

The third factor is the prolonged length of hospital stay. Hospital-acquired infections cause complications that can extend a patient's hospital stay. The longer the patient stays, the higher the cost of care due to increased use of hospital resources such as bed-space, personnel time, and supplies.

Key concepts

Extended Drug Use

When a patient develops a hospital-acquired infection, the go-to strategy often involves an aggressive form of treatment that usually includes the administration of drugs.

Extended drug use becomes necessary to combat these infections, which could be resistant to standard antibiotics. As bacteria evolve, so does the complexity of the drugs required to treat them.

Implications of Antibiotic Resistance

Increases in antibiotic resistance lead to the use of stronger, more expensive medication options. These advanced antibiotics demand specific usage protocols and often have a higher price tag due to their efficacy and development costs. Patients might need a combination of drugs over a longer period, which amplifies the overall treatment expenses.

• Increase in Treatment Duration: Patients typically receive antibiotics for an extended period, which increases the amount of medication used.
• High-Cost Medications: Second-line or third-line antibiotics required for resistant infections are significantly more expensive.
• Additional Testing: More frequent laboratory tests are needed to monitor the infection's response to treatment, adding to the cost burden.

Increased Nursing Care

The management of hospital-acquired infections requires a substantial increase in nursing care and medical attention.

This increased care translates to more frequent monitoring, specialized procedures, and potentially isolation measures to prevent the spread of infection to other patients.

Enhanced Care Requirements

A higher level of vigilance and more intensive treatment regimens mean additional hours of nursing care, which compound healthcare costs significantly.

• Intensive Monitoring: Vital signs and symptoms must be checked more regularly, demanding more of nursing staff's time.
• Isolation Procedures: Infections like MRSA require patients to be isolated, which involves specific protocols and equipment, adding to the nursing workload and overall cost.
• Specialized Nursing Training: Dealing with complex infections often necessitates specialized knowledge and skills from the nursing staff.

Prolonged Hospital Stay

Hospital-acquired infections often lead to complications that necessitate a longer recovery period, resulting in a prolonged hospital stay for the patient.

Each additional day in the hospital incurs substantial costs, not only from the room and board but also due to the ongoing use of medical facilities and resources.

Consequences of Extended Stays

A lengthier stay can place a heavy financial strain on healthcare systems and patients, alike.

• Occupied Beds: Extended stays mean beds are unavailable for new patients, affecting hospital turnover and capacity.
• Incremental Use of Resources: Each extra day requires continued use of utilities, medical supplies, and the engagement of healthcare professionals.
• Increased Risks: The longer patients remain hospitalized, the higher their risk for additional complications or acquiring further infections.