When it comes to preventing the spread of respiratory infections in a hospital, is it better to adopt the most stringent measures possible or a more moderate approach? One might assume it's best to go with the strictest measures possible, but what if prevention comes with a hefty price tag?
Researchers in Singapore, a country hit hard by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, compared costs of preventing the diseases spread in hospitals of three major respiratory diseases: SARS, pandemic 2009 H1N1 flu, and the Spanish flu which caused the 1918 pandemic. They found that the severity of the virus and high case-fatality rates were among the things that affected cost-effectiveness the most. Researchers determined that a calibrated approach based on the severity of the virus and community risks may help guide responses to future epidemics.
The article, “Cost-Effectiveness of Hospital Infection Control Response to an Epidemic Respiratory Virus Threat” by Paul A. Tambyah, et al. will appear in the 2009 edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC's monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal.
IP LifeLine: Keeping it Together When Things Fall Apart: Maintaining Balance When Life Gets Messy
July 25th 2024Balancing personal struggles and professional responsibilities during crises requires self-awareness, self-compassion, healthy boundaries, and support networks. Embrace these strategies to navigate and overcome challenges.
Adaptive Clothing Innovations for Medical Treatments: A Journey to Enhance Patient Care
June 18th 2024Chaitenya Razdan, CEO and founder of Care+Wear, discusses the development of adaptive clothing for patients with PICC lines and NICU infants, focusing on comfort, dignity, and infection prevention.