METHODS: A price of therapy model was developed to allow the costs of 0.1% polihexanide/betaine solution and sterile saline to treat patients with infectious chronic wounds. Costs incurred due to irrigation solution, technical fee, hydrogel/foam dressing and antibiotics were included as relevant cost factors. Specific data for volume used per dressing, time for wound closure and percentage of patients needing antibiotic therapy were derived from previous clinical studies. Hypothetical total number of patients was set up to 100 to include percentage of patients needing antibiotic therapy as one of the cost factors for a model.

RESULTS: By substituting 0.1% polihexanide/betaine solution for sterile saline, the total cost was found to be 63.6% lower to complete wound healing process. Although the cost incurred due to irrigation solution itself of 0.1% polihexanide/betaine solution was 92% higher than sterile saline due to its own price, the costs incurred due to technical fee and hydrogel/foam dressing were 63.9% lower than sterile saline. Furthermore, the cost incurred due to antibiotics(including the costs of IV/oral antibiotic therapy) was 83.3% lower than sterile saline.

CONCLUSIONS: According to HIRA(Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service), the number of patients with infectious wound was 400,976 in 2019 and the number has been increased by an average 6.93% per year in recent 5 years. Under these conditions, 0.1% polihexanide/betaine solution is expected to be the credible alternative for sterile saline to treat patients with chronic wounds in the perspective of cost-effectiveness in addition to its clinical utility.