Healthcare burden of probable and proven invasive mucormycosis: a multi-centre cost-of-illness analysis of patients treated in tertiary care hospitals between 2003 and 2016

Costs and resource utilization patterns in surgical site infections: a pre-COVID-19 perspective from France, Germany, Spain, and the UK

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSIs), mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, pose a significant economic burden in Europe, leading to increased hospitalization duration, mortality, and treatment costs, particularly with drug-resistant strains such as meticillin-resistant S. aureus.

AIM

To conduct a case-control study on the economic impact of S. aureus SSI in adult surgical patients across high-volume centres in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK, aiming to assess the overall and procedure-specific burden across Europe.

METHODS

The SALT study is a multinational, retrospective cohort study with a nested case-control analysis focused on S. aureus SSI in Europe. The study included participants from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK who underwent invasive surgery in 2016 and employed a micro-costing approach to evaluate health economic factors, matching S. aureus SSI cases with controls.

FINDINGS

In 2016, among 178,904 surgical patients in five European countries, 764 developed S. aureus SSI. Matching 744 cases to controls, the study revealed that S. aureus SSI cases incurred higher immediate hospitalization costs (€8,810), compared to controls (€6,032). Additionally, S. aureus SSI cases exhibited increased costs for readmissions within the first year post surgery (€7,961.6 versus €5,298.6), with significant differences observed. Factors associated with increased surgery-related costs included the cost of hospitalization immediately after surgery, first intensive care unit (ICU) admission within 12 months, and hospital readmission within 12 months, as identified through multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

The higher rates of hospitalization, ICU admissions, and readmissions among S. aureus SSI cases highlight the severity of these infections and their impact on healthcare costs, emphasizing the potential benefits of evidence-based infection control measures and improved patient care to mitigate the economic burden.

Severe Fatal Mucormycosis in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Treated with Zanubrutinib: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Severe mucormycosis is a fatal disease rarely complicating chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. We present a fulminant and fatal case of a 74-year-old Caucasian woman suffering from CLL treated with second-generation BTK inhibitor zanubrutinib. After a first septic episode a month prior, originating from the lung with later systemic involvement by an unidentified agent and treated with large-spectrum antibiotics and fluconazonle, a slow-onset enlarging tender warm and erythematous nodular swollen cutaneous lesion appeared in her lower limbs and spread subsequently to her upper limbs, progressing towards central ulceration with a necrotic core. Suspecting a mycotic dissemination from an unknown agent, a skin punch biopsy was performed, and intraconazole was started. Due to spread of the skin lesions, the patient was hospitalized and intravenous liposomal ampthotericin B was started. Histopathology showed an atypical sporangium-rich mycotic angioinvasion of the small vessels. Only the increase of BDG and GM could corroborate the hypothesis of mycotic infection. However, long-term CLL, immunosuppressive therapies, neutropenia, and prior use of azoles and other antimycotic agents were risk factors for mucormycosis; BTK inhibitor could also be added as another novel risk factor. Despite all therapeutic efforts, the patient died. Post-mortem molecular exams confirmed the diagnosis of disseminated mucormycosis.

Health economic analysis of patients treated with isavuconazole in a German comprehensive cancer centre

BACKGROUND

Invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are life-threatening and demand timely and appropriate treatment. Research showed that isavuconazole treatment positively affects clinical outcome and length of hospital stay (LOS).

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the hospital costs of patients diagnosed with IFD and treated with isavuconazole using real-world data from a German cancer centre.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Data and LOS collected from Jan-2016 to Jun-2021 at Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne were retrieved. Case-related resources consumed during the hospital stay across isavuconazole routes of administration (oral, parenteral, and mixed administration) were identified, quantified, valued and compared via a cost analysis that adopted the healthcare payer perspective.

RESULTS

In total, 101 cases with isavuconazole treatment were identified (oral: n = 22, 21.8%; parenteral: n = 59, 58.4%; mixed: n = 20, 19.8%). Median total LOS was greater in the mixed group (46.5 days; p = .009). Median ICU LOS and ventilation duration were both longest in the parenteral-only group (16 days, p = .008; 224 h, p = .003). Invasive aspergillosis was the most frequent isavuconazole indication (n = 86, 85.2%). Average hospital costs were highest in the mixed group (€ 101,226). The median overall costs of cases treated with isavuconazole was € 52,050.

CONCLUSIONS

Treating IFD is resource intensive, often requires intensive care and implies high rates of in-hospital mortality. Our study emphasises the high hospital treatment costs and thus the need for reimbursement systems to enable live-saving costly treatments.

COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis (CAM): An Updated Evidence Mapping

Mucormycosis, a serious and rare fungal infection, has recently been reported in COVID-19 patients worldwide. This study aims to map all the emerging evidence on the COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) with a special focus on clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes. An extensive literature search was performed in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, and WHO COVID-19 database till 9 June 2021. The primary outcome was to summarize the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes of CAM. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and presented in tabular form. This evidence mapping was based on a total of 167 CAM patients with a mean age of 51 ± 14.62 years, and 56.28% of them were male. Diabetes mellitus (73.65% (n = 123)), hypertension (22.75% (n = 38)), and renal failure (10.77% (n = 18)) were the most common co-morbidities among CAM patients. The most common symptoms observed in CAM patients were facial pain, ptosis, proptosis, visual acuity, and vision loss. Survival was higher in patients who underwent both medical and surgical management (64.96%). Overall mortality among CAM patients was found to be 38.32%. In conclusion, this study found a high incidence of CAM with a high mortality rate. Optimal glycemic control and early identification of mucormycosis should be the priority to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to CAM.

The disease burden of mucormycosis in Japan: results from a systematic literature review and retrospective database study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate outcomes, healthcare resource utilization, and costs associated with mucormycosis in inpatient settings in Japan.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review, followed by a retrospective database study using hospital health claims for patients in Japan hospitalized with a diagnosis of mucormycosis between January 2010 and January 2019. Outcomes assessed included duration of index hospitalization; index stay mortality; hospital readmission within 30, 60, and 90 days after index hospitalization discharge; drug/treatment utilization and patterns; number of patients examined for mucormycosis during the index hospitalization; and index stay inpatient costs.

RESULTS

From our systematic literature review of articles describing 133 patients with mucormycosis, mortality in the index hospitalization was 55.6%. From our database study of 126 patients hospitalized for mucormycosis, mortality during the index hospitalization was 35.7% and mean index stay duration was 94 days. Hematologic malignancies were the most common risk factor in the literature review and the most common comorbidity in the database study. During the index stay, 39 patients (31.0%) received liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) treatment and 74 patients (58.7%) received other antifungal treatments. Median total inpatient costs for the index hospitalization were equivalent to approximately US$60,945, including US$29,283 in drug costs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated the healthcare resource utilization and cost of medical resources caused by mucormycosis in Japan. The drug costs for antifungal treatments comprised about half of total inpatient costs. Mucormycosis leads to high mortality, high healthcare resource utilization, and high costs.

Clinical and pharmacoeconomic evaluation of antifungal prophylaxis with continuous micafungin in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation: A six-year cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (aSCT) are at high risk to develop an invasive fungal disease (IFD). Optimisation of antifungal prophylaxis strategies may improve patient outcomes and reduce treatment costs.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the clinical and economical impact of using continuous micafungin as antifungal prophylaxis.

PATIENTS/METHODS

We performed a single-centre evaluation comparing patients who received either oral posaconazole with micafungin as intravenous bridging as required (POS-MIC) to patients who received only micafungin (MIC) as antifungal prophylaxis after aSCT. Epidemiological, clinical and direct treatment cost data extracted from the Cologne Cohort of Neutropenic Patients (CoCoNut) were analysed.

RESULTS

Three hundred and thirteen patients (97 and 216 patients in the POS-MIC and MIC groups, respectively) were included into the analysis. In the POS-MIC and MIC groups, median overall length of stay was 42 days (IQR: 35-52 days) vs 40 days (IQR: 35-49 days; p = .296), resulting in median overall costs of €42,964 (IQR: €35,040-€56,348) vs €43,291 (IQR: €37,281 vs €51,848; p = .993), respectively. Probable/proven IFD in the POS-MIC and MIC groups occurred in 5 patients (5%) vs 3 patients (1%; p = .051), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed improved outcome of patients in the MIC group at day 100 (p = .037) and day 365 (p < .001) following aSCT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results demonstrate improved outcomes in the MIC group compared with the POS-MIC group, which can in part be explained by a tendency towards less probable/proven IFD. Higher drug acquisition costs of micafungin did not translate into higher overall costs.

Principal-agent theory-based cost and reimbursement structures of isavuconazole treatment in German hospitals

BACKGROUND

Isavuconazole (ISA) is a frequently used antifungal agent for the treatment of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs). However, hospital reimbursement data for ISA is limited.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to analyse the different perspectives of relevant stakeholders and the (dis)incentives for the administration of ISA in Germany. To that aim, the health economic effects of using ISA from a hospital management perspective were analysed.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Based on principal-agent theory (PAT), the perspectives of (a) the patient (principal) as well as (b) physicians, (c) pharmacists and iv. hospital managers (all agents) were analysed. For the evaluation of the cost-containment and reimbursement strategies of ISA, the German diagnosis-related group (G-DRG) system was used.

RESULTS

Hospitals individually negotiating additional payments for innovative treatment procedures (zusatzentgelte [ZE]) within the G-DRG system is a key element of hospital management for the reduction of total healthcare expenditure. Our analysis demonstrated the beneficial role of ISA in healthcare resource utilisation, primarily due to a shortened overall length of hospital stay. Depending on underlying disease, coded G-DRG and ISA formulation, large differences in total reimbursement and the amount of ZE was shown. The PAT demonstrated disincentives for hospital managers to use innovative drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the PAT, beneficial, detrimental and indifferent perspectives of different stakeholders regarding the usage of ISA were shown. A reduction of bureaucratic hurdles is needed in Germany for the extension of effective and innovative antifungal treatment strategies with ISA.

Mucormycosis in the Middle East and North Africa: Analysis of the FungiScope® registry and cases from the literature

BACKGROUND

Regional differences in the underlying causes, manifestations and treatment of mucormycosis have been noted in studies covering Europe, Asia and South America.

OBJECTIVES

To review cases of mucormycosis across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in order to identify epidemiological, treatment and outcome trends in this region.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Cases of proven or probable invasive mucormycosis from the region were identified from the FungiScope^® database and the medical literature. For each case, information on underlying condition, site of infection, pathogenic species, therapeutic intervention, type of antifungal therapy and outcome were analysed.

RESULTS

We identified 310 cases of mucormycosis in the MENA region. The number of reported cases increased by decade from 23 before 1990 to 127 in the 2010s. In this region, the most common underlying conditions associated with mucormycosis were diabetes mellitus (49.7%) and conditions associated with immunosuppression (46.5%). The majority of patients received treatment with antifungals (93.5%), with a large proportion treated with both antifungals and surgery (70.6%). Overall mortality rates decreased from 47.8% before 1990 to 32.3% in the 2010s.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of reported cases of mucormycosis in the MENA region has risen over the past few decades, in line with increases in the number of patients with underlying conditions associated with this infection. Although the majority of patients received treatment with antifungal therapies and/or surgery, the associated mortality rate remains high and there is a clear need for more effective prevention and treatment strategies in the MENA region.

A population-based analysis of attributable hospitalisation costs of invasive fungal diseases in haematological malignancy patients using data linkage of state-wide registry and costing databases: 2009-2015

BACKGROUND

Invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are associated with significant treatment-related costs in patients with haematological malignancies (HM).

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to characterise the gross and attributable hospitalisation costs of a variety of IFD in patients with HM by linking state-wide hospital administrative and costing datasets.

PATIENTS/METHODS

We linked the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset, Victorian Cancer Registry and the Victorian Cost Data Collection from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2015. IFD cases and uninfected controls were matched 1:1 based on age within ten years, same underlying HM and length of stay prior to IFD diagnosis. The cost difference between surviving cases and controls, indexed to 2019 Australian dollars (AUD) calculated twelve months from IFD diagnosis, was determined using Poisson and negative binomial regression (NBR).

RESULTS

From 334 matched pairs, the gross hospitalisation cost of cases was AUD$67 277 compared to AUD$51 158 among uninfected controls, associated with an excess median hospitalisation cost of AUD$16 119 (P < .001) attributable to IFD, approximating to USD$11 362 and €10 154 at purchasing power parity. Median attributable costs were highest for patients with invasive aspergillosis (AUD$55 642; P < .001) and mucormycosis (AUD$51 272; P = .043) followed by invasive candidiasis AUD$24 572 (P < .001). No change in median excess attributable costs was observed over the study period (P = .90) Analyses by NBR revealed a 1.36-fold increase (P < .001) in total hospitalisation costs among cases as compared to controls twelve months from IFD diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis have high attributable hospitalisation costs but the overall excess IFD cost of AUD$16 119 is modest, potentially reflecting missed or miscoded fungal episodes arguing for better quality surveillance data at hospital level.

Mucormycosis of the Central Nervous System

Mucormycosis involves the central nervous system by direct extension from infected paranasal sinuses or hematogenous dissemination from the lungs. Incidence rates of this rare disease seem to be rising, with a shift from the rhino-orbital-cerebral syndrome typical of patients with diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis, to disseminated disease in patients with hematological malignancies. We present our current understanding of the pathobiology, clinical features, and diagnostic and treatment strategies of cerebral mucormycosis. Despite advances in imaging and the availability of novel drugs, cerebral mucormycosis continues to be associated with high rates of death and disability. Emerging molecular diagnostics, advances in experimental systems and the establishment of large patient registries are key components of ongoing efforts to provide a timely diagnosis and effective treatment to patients with cerebral mucormycosis.

Intravenous and tablet formulation of posaconazole in antifungal therapy and prophylaxis: A retrospective, non-interventional, multicenter analysis of hematological patients treated in tertiary-care hospitals

OBJECTIVES

Novel formulations (gastro-resistant tablet and intravenous solution) of posaconazole (POS) have been approved in prophylaxis and therapy of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs). Study aim was to analyze treatment strategies and clinical effectiveness.

METHODS

We set up a web-based registry on www.ClinicalSurveys.net for documentation of comprehensive data of patients who received novel POS formulations. Data analysis was split into two groups of patients who received novel POS formulations for antifungal prophylaxis (posaconazole prophylaxis group) and antifungal therapy (posaconazole therapy group), respectively.

RESULTS

Overall, 180 patients (151 in the posaconazole prophylaxis group and 29 in the posaconazole therapy group) from six German tertiary care centers and hospitalized between 05/2014 - 03/2016 were observed. Median age was 58 years (range: 19 - 77 years) and the most common risk factor for IFD was chemotherapy (n = 136; 76%). In the posaconazole prophylaxis group and posaconazole therapy group, median POS serum levels at steady-state were 1,068 μg/L (IQR 573-1,498 μg/L) and 904 μg/L (IQR 728-1,550 μg/L), respectively (P = 0.776). During antifungal prophylaxis with POS, nine (6%) probable/proven fungal breakthroughs were reported and overall survival rate of hospitalization was 86%. The median overall duration of POS therapy was 18 days (IQR: 7 - 23 days). Fourteen patients (48%) had progressive IFD under POS therapy, of these five patients (36%) died related to or likely related to IFD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates clinical effectiveness of antifungal prophylaxis with novel POS formulations. In patients treated for possible/probable/proven IFD, we observed considerable mortality in patients receiving salvage treatment and with infections due to rare fungal species.