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MRSA Hospital Aquired Infections

The Cost Effectiveness of The Steiros Algorithm®
in a Long Term Acute Care Hospital
(Mesquite Specialty Hospital, Ernest Healthcare)

by Chinhnam Hathuc, MS(a), Paul A. Watson, MD, MS(b), Luke R. Watson,
MD(c),  and Alfonso Torress-Cook, DrPH(c)

a = Touro University, Mare Island,  Vallejo, CA
b = Lakeside Orthopedics, Omaha, NE
c = Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Paper #2700, submitted for presentation at
SHEA Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections
March 18-22 2010

Background

    Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a problem for patient safety and a significant financial burden for all health
    care facilities.  Previous CDC guidelines for preventing HAIs are minimally effective in reducing infections or
    costs.  On October 1st, 2008 the Department of Health and Human Services stopped paying for catheter-
    associated urinary tract infections, vascular catheter-associated infections, and mediastinitis after coronary artery
    bypass graft surgery.  In this regard both patients’ and hospitals’ best interest involve finding ways to reduce HAIs.
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Objective

    Our prospective study evaluates the effectiveness of a novel
    global hospital environmental cleaning algorithm, the
    Steiros Algorithm ®, on reducing HAI’s and their associated
    costs in a long term acute care hospital (Mesquite Specialty
    Hospital, Ernest Healthcare).

Methods

    We compared the number of urinary tract infections (UTIs),
    ventilator associated pneumonias (VAP), central line
    infections (C-Line), multi-drug resistant organism infections
    (MDRO) and isolation rates for three months prior to and
    twelve months after initiating the Steiros Algorithm® .  

    Using a cost-cost analysis, the real hospital estimated
    material costs (RHEC) as determined by the chief financial
    officer of Mesquite Specialty Hospital, and costs estimated
    by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for these HAIs,
    were compared to each other pre and post use of the
    Steiros Algorithm®.

Results

    The Steiros Algorithm®  dramatically reduced the number of
    HAIs in the acute care hospital setting.  

    During the three months prior to starting the Steiros
    Algorithm®  there were five VAPs, ten UTIs, three C-line, eight
    MRDO infections and 1170 isolation days.  In the twelve
    months after instituting the Steiros Algorithm ®, there were
    zero VAPs, ten UTIs, five C-line, three MDRO infections and
    540 isolation days.  

    Under the parameters of the study, cost savings per month
    based on the CDC estimates was $122,185, and cost
    savings per month based on the RHEC was approximately
    $47,500.

Conclusions

    The Steiros Algorithm® dramatically reduced the number of
    HAIs and costs in the Long Term Acute care hospital
    setting.   The reduced number of HAIs translated into CDC
    estimated saving of $4000 per bed per month and a RHEC
    of $1500 per bed per month.  

    We believe the Steiros Algorithm® should be considered for
    all hospitals interested in reducing HAIs and costs
    associated with these infections.
Steiros Infection Control Consultants
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