What is the likely impact on surgical site infections in Australian hospitals if smoking rates are reduced? A cost analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Assisting smokers to quit before surgery reduces surgical site infection (SSI) risk. The short-term economic benefits of reducing SSIs by embedding tobacco dependence treatment in Australian hospitals are unknown. Estimated annual number of SSIs prevented, and hospital bed-days (HBD) and costs saved from reducing smoking before surgery are calculated.

Methods

The most recent number of surgical procedures and SSI rates for Australia were sourced. The number of smokers and non-smokers having a SSI were calculated using the UK Royal College of Physicians reported adjusted odds ratio (1.79), and the proportion of SSIs attributable to smoking calculated. The potential impact fraction was used to estimate reductions in SSIs and associated HBDs and costs from reducing

SUBMITTER: McCaffrey N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8386862 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature