Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34368695›Full record

ArticleInfection prevention in practice2020

Attributable cost and extra length of stay of surgical site infection at a Ghanaian teaching hospital.

Ama Pokuaa Fenny, Felix Ankomah Asante, Evans Otieku, Antionette Bediako-Bowan, Ulrika Enemark

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection prevention in practice, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Observational
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  6. Review
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  10. The financial impact of puerperal infections on patients, carers and public hospitals in two regions in Ghana.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2021
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ama Pokuaa FennyUniversity of Ghana, Ghana.
Felix Ankomah AsanteUniversity of Ghana, Ghana.
Evans OtiekuUniversity of Ghana, Ghana.
Antionette Bediako-BowanKorle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
Ulrika EnemarkAarhus University, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLimited information is available on the financial impact of healthcare associated infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. A prospective case-control study was undertaken at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, to calculate the cost of surgical site infections (SSI).

methodsWe studied 446 adults undergoing surgery from the surgical department. In all, 40 patients with SSI and 40 control patients without SSI were matched by type of surgery, wound class, ASA, sex and age. The direct and indirect costs to patients were obtained from patients and their carers, daily. The cost of drugs was confirmed with the pharmacy at the department.

resultsThe prevalence rate for SSI was 11% of the total 446 cases sampled between June and August 2017. On average patients with SSI who undertook hernia surgery paid approximately US$ 392 more than the matched controls without SSI. The least difference was recorded amongst patients who had thyroid surgery, a difference of US$ 42. The results show that for all surgical procedures, SSI patients report excess length of stay. The additional days range from 1 day for limb amputation, to 16 days for rectal surgery.

conclusionsIn this study, patients with SSI experienced significant prolongation of hospitalisation and increased use of health care costs. In many cases, the indirect costs were much higher than direct costs. These findings support the need to implement preventative interventions for patients hospitalised for various surgical procedures at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Indexed as

AttributableCostGhanaSurgical site infectionTeaching hospital

Identifiers

PMID34368695
PMCPMC8336154

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.