Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39317496›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Cost comparison analysis of continuous versus intermittent antimicrobial therapy infusions in inpatient and outpatient care: real-world data from Finland.

Tuukka Hakkarainen, Mari Lahelma, Terhi Rahkonen, Ville Lehtinen, Julian Shepelev, Trine Gram, Eija Heikkila

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
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

7 authors.

Tuukka HakkarainenNordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland.
Mari LahelmaNordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland.
Terhi RahkonenDepartment of Emergency Care of Lahti Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland.
Ville LehtinenDepartment of Internal Medicine of Lahti Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland.
Julian ShepelevHealth Economics and Outcomes Research, Baxter Healthcare SA, Opfikon, Switzerland.
Trine GramHealth Economics and Outcomes Research, Baxter Healthcare SA, Opfikon, Switzerland.
Eija HeikkilaNordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland Eija.heikkila@nhg.fi.ORCID 0000-0002-3736-8410

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study compared the costs and nursing time associated with the delivery of continuous infusion of antibiotics via elastomeric infusion pumps (EIP) versus conventional intermittent infusion (CII) across different care pathways.

designRetrospective real-world data informed a cost comparison analysis that compared costs and nursing hours between infusion of antibiotics via EIP versus CII across eight care pathways in inpatient or outpatient care during infection episodes. Real-world data were obtained from patients treated within a year with parenteral antimicrobial therapy in Päijät-Häme Region, Finland.

settingInpatient care with hospital admission and outpatient care at hospital at home in Päijät-Häme Region in Finland.

participants3778 patients with a total of 4214 infection episodes treated with intravenous antimicrobial therapy.

interventionsEight treatment strategies with various combinations of EIP and CII administered in inpatient or outpatient care. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct costs and nursing time.

resultsSkin and soft tissue infections accounted for the highest number of episodes treated with EIP overall (30.8%; 74 out of 240 episodes) and in outpatient care specifically (53.3%; 128 out of 240 episodes). Compared with inpatient care costs with CII (€4590 per episode), treating skin and soft tissue infections in outpatient care with EIP or CII incurred only 24% (€1104) and 35% (€1620) of the costs, respectively. Across all treatment strategies and infections studied, the use of EIP consistently required less nursing time. The highest nursing time in the outpatient care was observed in sepsis episodes treated with CII (37 hours with CII vs 7 hours with EIP per episode).

conclusionDelivery of antimicrobial therapy using continuous infusions with EIP instead of CII can significantly decrease the nursing time and cost in both inpatient and outpatient care. For skin and soft tissue infections and sepsis, the utilisation of EIP is a cost-saving option in outpatient care compared with the use of CII.

Indexed as

Ambulatory CareAnti-Bacterial AgentsAdultAgedCosts and Cost AnalysisFemaleFinlandHospitalizationHumansInfusion PumpsInfusions, IntravenousMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSoft Tissue InfectionsAnti-Bacterial AgentsAnti-Bacterial AgentsHEALTH ECONOMICSHospital to Home TransitionINFECTIOUS DISEASESNursing Care

Identifiers

PMID39317496
PMCPMC11423756

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.