Comparative analyses of holder pasteurization vs. HTST pasteurization for donor milk: a cost-minimization study applicable to human milk banks.

Background: High-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization (72-75 °C, 15 s) is an alternative treatment to traditional Holder pasteurization (HoP) (62ºC, 30 min) for donor milk. HTST pasteurization guarantees the milk's microbiological safety and retains more of its biologically and nutritionally active compounds, but the cost of implementing this technology for a human milk bank is unknown.

Methods: A cost-minimization study was carried out on the facilities of a regional human milk bank in a public hospital.

Diagnostic Testing for Sepsis: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations.

Introduction: Sepsis is a serious and expensive healthcare problem, when caused by a multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria mortality and costs increase. A reduction in the time until the start of treatment improves clinical results. The objective is to perform a systematic review of economic evaluations to analyze the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic methods in sepsis and to draw lessons on the methods used to incorporate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in these studies.

Analysis of the Prescription of Antibiotics During the Implementation of COVID-19 Personal Protection Measures in a Regional Health System.

Introduction: The rational consumption of antibiotics is a valuable goal for developed countries. Antibiotic resistance (AMR) was the main health threat before the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. To restrict COVID-19 transmission, the Spanish government implemented personal protection measures, including the decree of a lockdown.

Health-Economic Analyses of Diagnostics: Guidance on Design and Reporting.

Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) can be used to assess the value of diagnostics in clinical practice. Due to the introduction of the European in vitro diagnostic and medical devices regulations, more clinical data on new diagnostics may become available, which may improve the interest and feasibility of performing CEAs. We present eight recommendations on the reporting and design of CEAs of diagnostics.

Economic Analyses of Respiratory Tract Infection Diagnostics: A Systematic Review.

Background: Diagnostic testing for respiratory tract infections is a tool to manage the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the rising incidence of antimicrobial resistance. At the same time, new European regulations for market entry of in vitro diagnostics, in the form of the in vitro diagnostic regulation, may lead to more clinical evidence supporting health-economic analyses.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to review the methods used in economic evaluations of applied diagnostic techniques, for all patients seeking care for infectious diseases of the respiratory tract (such as pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza, sinusitis, pharyngitis, sore throats and general respiratory tract infections).

Efficiency of Diagnostic Testing for Infections-A Systematic Review.

Background: The most recommended treatment for a infection is high doses of combined antibiotics. The objective of this article is to perform a systematic review of the economic evaluation studies applied to assess the efficiency of diagnostic testing for infections, so that their main characteristics can be identified and to learn from the literature how the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issue is incorporated into these economic evaluations.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to compare the costs and clinical effectiveness of diagnostic strategies for infections.

Effects of economic and health policies on the consumption of antibiotics in a Spanish region.

Objectives: Inappropriate and indiscriminate use of antibiotics is one of the main factors contributing to the increasing bacterial resistance. Surveillance of antibiotic consumption is fundamental for assessing the effects of rational use-oriented measures introduced under economic or health policies. This study quantifies and assesses the introduction of a pharmaceutical co-payment and implementation of campaigns to increase awareness about and rational use in the consumption of antibiotics (volume and expenditure).

[Risk sharing contracts in the national health care system: Perceptions of health care professionals].

Objective: Risk-sharing contracts (RSC) present a novel management tool, which link the payment to the pharmaceutical company to health outcomes. The objective of this work was to know the perception of health professionals about the utility of these agreements in the Spanish National Health System.

Methods: A questionnaire was designed to conduct a series of semi-structured interviews with hospital pharmacy, laboratory and oncology professionals from Spanish hospitals in Madrid, Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Cataluña, La Rioja, País Vasco and Navarra.