Pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients with ambulatory bloodstream infections have higher health care costs and unplanned extended hospital admissions, claims a recent study.
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Despite the frequency with which they occur, the impact of bloodstream infections on pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients is still poorly understood. In a study published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer, researchers led by Chris I Wong, MD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA), investigated how the occurrence of bloodstream infections related to cost of care and patient length of stay.
They retrospectively analyzed data from pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients treated at Dana Farber Cancer Institute between 2012 and 2013. In all, 74 bloodstream infections were identified in 61 patients, 69% of which met criteria for central line-associated bloodstream infections. Patients whose hospitalization and costs were due solely to their bloodstream infection had median charges of $36,611 and a median length of stay of 6 days. The remaining hospitalizations included at least 1 other medical issue. The median charges and length of stay for these children were $40,000 and 7 days, respectively.
Thus, researchers concluded that bloodstream infections can have a significant impact of patient costs and length of hospitalization. These findings suggest that preventing bloodstream infections could improve patient outcomes while also significantly reducing system expenses.
"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,” Dr Wong said in a press release. “Reducing these infections is important both for cost containment and quality of care."
