Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections (HAI), associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment. Determination of the clinical as well as the financial burden of such infections is of critical importance for all the stakeholders for rational and fair allocation of resources.
METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Patients diagnosed with HAI with P. aeruginosa (HAPAI) were screened. Demographic and clinical data were collected from patient records. Cost analysis was conducted from a societal perspective, incorporating direct and indirect costs. One-way analysis of variance and unpaired two-tailed t-test were used for comparison of data between the groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were identified to have HAPAI, with the mean duration of admission to isolation being 9.96 ± 4.28 days. Skin and soft tissue infection was the most commonly found HAI. 42% of P. aeruginosa were multidrug-resistant. The DOH due to HAPAI was 27.86±6.98 days, with the duration of antimicrobial therapy being 20.07±7.29 days. The per-patient average economic burden due to HAPAI by P. aeruginosa was 1,09,158± 1,27,801 INR (1310 ± 1534 USD), with a median of 69,700 INR (836 USD). (1 USD =83.33 INR). Possible Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (PVAP) (4053 ± 2314 USD) and Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection(CAUTI) (2463 ± 2877 USD) were significantly associated(P<0.001) with higher overall cost of treatment compared to other HAPAIs.
CONCLUSIONS: The development of HAPAI imposes a significant clinical as well as a financial burden on the patient as well as the health care setting. The study highlights the necessity of taking effective preventive measures to decrease the incidence of the same.