Financial impact of healthcare-associated infections on intensive care units estimated for fifty Brazilian university hospitals affiliated to the unified health system.

Background: Studies show that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a crucial issue in healthcare and can lead to substantial economic impacts in intensive care units (ICUs).

Aim: To estimate direct costs associated with the most significant HAIs in 50 teaching hospitals in Brazil, affiliated to the unified health system (Sistema Único de Saúde: SUS).

Methods: A Monte Carlo simulation model was designed to estimate the direct costs of HAIs; first, epidemiologic and economic parameters were established for each HAI based on a cohort of 949 critical patients (800 without HAI and 149 with); second, simulation based on three Brazilian prevalence scenarios of HAIs in ICU patients (29.1%, 51.2%, and 61.6%) was used; and third, the annual direct costs of HAIs in 50 university hospitals were simulated.

Findings: Patients with HAIs had 16 additional days in the ICU, along with an extra direct cost of US$13.892, compared to those without HAIs. In one hypothetical scenario without HAI, the direct annual cost of hospital care for 26,649 inpatients in adult ICUs of 50 hospitals was US$112,924,421. There was an increase of approximately US$56 million in a scenario with 29.1%, and an increase of US$147 million in a scenario with 61.6%. The impact on the direct cost became significant starting at a 10% prevalence of HAIs, where US$2,824,817 is added for each 1% increase in prevalence.

Conclusion: This analysis provides robust and updated estimates showing that HAI places a significant financial burden on the Brazilian healthcare system and contributes to a longer stay for inpatients.