ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS EPIDEMIC ON THE DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S HEALTH PLAN

• DOI: 10.1097/01.inf.0000199304.68890.60
• Publication Date: 2006-02-03T09:02:11Z
• Authors: Kevin Purcell; Jaime Fergie; Mary Dale Peterson
• Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; Health Maintenance Organizations; Cellulitis; Staphylococcal Infections; Abscess; United States; Disease Outbreaks; 3. Good health; Community-Acquired Infections; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 8. Economic growth; Costs and Cost Analysis; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Child

Cellulitis and abscess accounted for increasing percentages of inpatient (4.6-11.1%), outpatient (0.6-1.2%) and total (1.7-3.3%) expenses from 2001 through 2004. The per member per month expenses attributed to cellulitis and abscess increased from $0.74 in 2001 to $1.19 in 2004. The epidemic of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children has had a significant economic impact on the Driscoll Children's Health Plan.