Costs and Extra Length of Stay because of Neonatal Bloodstream Infection at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Ama Fenny, Evans Otieku, Kwaku Appiah-Korang Labi, Felix Ankomah Asante and Ulrika Enemark
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Evans Otieku: University of Ghana
Kwaku Appiah-Korang Labi: University of Ghana
Felix Ankomah Asante: University of Ghana
Ulrika Enemark: Aarhus University

PharmacoEconomics - Open, 2021, vol. 5, issue 1, No 12, 120 pages

Abstract: Abstract Background There are no published studies on the costs of hospital-acquired neonatal bloodstream infection (BSI) in Ghana. Therefore, this study aims to calculate the cost and extra length of stay (LOS) of neonatal BSI. A prospective case–control study was undertaken at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana. Methods The clinical data of 357 neonates were prospectively analysed. Overall, 100 neonates with BSI and 100 control neonates without BSI were matched by weight, sex and type of delivery. The direct and indirect costs to neonates and their caregivers was obtained on a daily basis. The cost of drugs was confirmed with the Pharmacy Department at KBTH. A count data model, specifically negative binomial regression, was employed to estimate the extra LOS in the NICU due to neonatal BSI. The study analyzed the total, average and marginal costs of neonatal BSI for the case and control groups from the perspective of the patients/carers/providers. Results Fifty-four percent of the total sample were born with a low birth weight. Neonates with BSI recorded higher costs compared with neonates without BSI. The highest difference in direct costs was recorded among neonates with extremely low birth weight (US$732), which is 67% higher than similar neonates without BSI. The regression estimates show a significant correlation between neonatal BSI and LOS in the NICU (p

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s41669-020-00230-x

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