Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jan 2009
Incidence rate and variable cost of nosocomial infections in different types of intensive care units.
Nosocomial infection (NI) is one of the most serious healthcare issues currently influencing healthcare costs. This study estimates the impact of NI on costs in intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ The medical ICU had the lowest rate of NI and the largest excess costs, the surgical ICU had the lowest excess costs, and the mixed medical and surgical ICU had the highest rate of NI. The cost is largely attributable to bloodstream infection and respiratory tract infection.