Cost-benefit analysis of antibiofilm microbiological techniques for peri-prosthetic joint infection diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Implant-related infections, including those of peri-prosthetic joint (PJIs), osteosynthesis and other biomaterials, are biofilm-related. Pathogen identification is considered the diagnostic benchmark; however, the presence of bacterial biofilms makes pathogen detection with traditional microbiological techniques only partially effective. To improve microbiological diagnostic accuracy, some biofilm debonding techniques have been recently proposed. Aim of this health economics assessment study was to evaluate their economic impact on hospital costs. METHODS: Direct and indirect hospital costs connected with the routine introduction of sonication and dithiothreitol treatment applied to hip and knee PJIs and of tissue cultures were examined. In particular the consequences of diagnostic inaccuracy, the opportunities, costs, and risks of each technique were calculated. RESULTS: Considering an average of five samples per patient, processed separately with traditional tissue culture with or without sonication of prosthetic components, or pooled together using the MicroDTTect device (a close system for sample collection, transport and treatment with Dithiothreitol for microbial release from biofilm), the overall mean direct cost per patient was € 397 and € 393 for sonication or MicroDTTect, respectively, compared to € 308 for traditional tissue cultures. In terms of opportunity costs, MicroDTTect was the most effective technique, allowing for a 35% or 55% reduction in time required for sample treatment, compared to tissue cultures combined or not with sonication, respectively. Pooling together direct and indirect costs associated with false positive and negative results of the different diagnostic techniques, unnecessary medical treatments and possible medical claims, MicroDTTect or sonication become increasingly cost-effective when the extra-costs, generated by diagnostic inaccuracy of traditional tissue culture, took place, respectively, in 2% or 20% or more of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study specifically focused on the economic impact of the routine clinical use of microbiological antibiofilm sampling and processing techniques in orthopaedics. Although our results may suffer from a potential country and hospital bias, as the data collection process for direct and indirect costs is specific to each institution and country, this analysis highlights the potential economic advantage to hospitals associated with the routine introduction of antibiofilm techniques for microbiological diagnosis of PJI.

Economic Evaluation of Antibacterial Coatings on Healthcare Costs in First Year Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Antibacterial coatings (ABCs) of implants have proven safe and effective to reduce postsurgical infection, but little is known about their possible economic impact on large-scale use. This study evaluated the point of economic balance, during the first year after surgery, and the potential overall annual healthcare cost savings of 3 different antibacterial technologies applied to joint arthroplasty: a dual-antibiotic-loaded bone cement (COPAL G + C), an antibacterial hydrogel coating (DAC), and a silver coating (Agluna). METHODS: The variables included in the algorithm were average cost and number of primary joint arthroplasties; average cost per patient of the ABC; incidence of periprosthetic joint infections and expected reduction using the ABCs; average cost of infection treatment and expected number of cases. RESULTS: The point of economic balance for COPAL G + C, DAC, and Agluna in the first year after surgery was reached in patient populations with an expected postsurgical infection rate of 1.5%, 2.6%, and 19.2%, respectively. If applied on a national scale, in a moderately high-risk population of patients with a 5% expected postsurgical infection rate, COPAL G + C and DAC hydrogel would provide annual direct cost savings of approximately €48,800,000 and €43,200,000 (€1220 and €1080 per patient), respectively, while the silver coating would be associated with an economic loss of approximately €136,000,000. CONCLUSION: This economic evaluation shows that ABC technologies have the potential to decrease healthcare costs primarily by decreasing the incidence of surgical site infections, provided that the technology is used in the appropriate risk class of patients.