Cost-effectiveness of a recommendation of universal mass vaccination for seasonal influenza in the United States.

Objectives: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of universal mass vaccination (UMV) against influenza compared with a targeted vaccine program (TVP) for selected age and risk groups in the United States.

Methods: We modeled costs and outcomes of seasonal influenza with UMV and TVP, taking a societal perspective. The US population was stratified to model age-specific (< 5, 5-17, 18-49, 50-64, and 65+ years) vaccine coverage and efficacy.

Economic assessment of doripenem versus imipenem in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), the most common nosocomial infection in critically ill patients, is associated with significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and increased mortality, hospital days, and health-care costs. A previously published prospective, randomized study established the noninferiority of intravenous (IV) doripenem versus IV imipenem/cilastatin ('imipenem') for VAP. This study compares the economic outcomes of IV therapy with doripenem versus imipenem as first-line treatment for VAP.