Cost-effectiveness of molecular diagnostic assays for the therapy of severe sepsis and septic shock in the emergency department.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Sepsis presents a major burden to the emergency department (ED). Because empiric inappropriate antimicrobial therapy (IAAT) is associated with increased mortality, rapid molecular assays may decrease IAAT and improve outcomes. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of molecular testing as an adjunct to blood cultures in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock evaluated in the ED.

Methods

We developed a decision analysis model with primary outcome the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio expressed in terms of deaths averted. Costs were dependent on the assay price and the patients' length of stay (LOS). Three base-case scenarios regarding the difference in LOS between patients receiving appropriate (AAT) and IAAT were described. Sensitivity analyses regarding the

SUBMITTER: Zacharioudakis IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6534337 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature