A cost-effectiveness model for a decision to adopt temporary single-patient rooms to reduce risks of healthcare-associated infection in the Australian public healthcare system.

BACKGROUND: The cost-effectiveness of patient isolation as part of an infection prevention effort is poorly understood. The potential to reduce risks of transmission saving costs and improving health outcomes is strong, yet up front investments in patient isolation are required. We report a cost-effectiveness model to inform adoption of a portable single isolation rooms into Australian publicly funded acute hospitals. METHODS: Information is harvested from a range of contemporary sources to reveal the expected changes to total costs and total health benefits measured by life years gain. An Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is estimated with uncertainty in all model parameters included by probabilistic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The adoption decision was found to change total costs per 100,000 occupied bed-days by $1,429,011 and generate health benefits of 436 life years. The mean cost per life year gained is $3278. The probability an adoption decision is cost saving is 2.1%. CONCLUSION: There is some evidence that adoption of rediroom is likely to be a cost-effective solution for Australian hospitals. Important caveats and assumptions need to be considered when interpreting this conclusion.