Burden of Antibiotic Resistant Gram Negative Bacterial Infections: Evidence and Limits

Abstract

Infections due to antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria unquestionably have substantial effects on morbidity and mortality. However, quantifying the exact economic burden attributable to these infections still remains a challenging issue. The review of the literature on this subject shows that severe infections from Gram-negative bacteria are associated with increased economic burden. However, the low comparability of methods and results limit the possibility to draw a clear conclusion. A better collaboration between health economy and clinical research is advocated to produce specific guidelines for economic studies in medical research.