The Budget Impact of Introducing a Rapid Test for the Screening of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms Among Hospitalized Patients in China

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the economic impact of introducing a rapid test to screen carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) from a hospital’s perspective and a patient's perspective in China.

METHODS: For a hypothetical one million hospitalized patients, a budget impact model was developed to assess the difference in total healthcare costs and per patient per year (PPPY) costs before and after introducting a rapid test to screen CPO among hospitalized patients in China. From a hospital’s perspective, the model evaluated operating costs and costs for clinicians, nurses and laboratory technicians for one year. From a patient’s perspective, the model evaluated CPO screening costs, hospitalization costs, costs for other laboratory tests, and CPO treatment costs for one year. Costs were estimated in 2022 Chinese yuan. Data inputs, including CPO incidence, CPO screening costs, hospitalization costs per day, costs for other laboratory costs, and CPO treatment costs, were obtained from published sources or expert opinions. In the base case, the market share of the rapid screening test was 40% based on market research.

RESULTS: In the base case, including the rapid test to screen CPO among the hospitalized patients decreased the healthcare budget by ￥0.69 billion from a hospital’s perspective and ￥4,241 PPPY from a patient’s perspective. The reduction in budget was mainly due to the CPO incidence and the hospitalization costs. Results were the most sensitive to the CPO incidence.

CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of a rapid test to screen CPO among hospitalized patients decreases the healthcare budget from both a hospital’s perspective and a patient’s perspective in China.