Cost of Nosocomial Outbreak Caused by NDM-1–Containing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Netherlands, October 2015–January 2016

Madelief Mollers,Anita W.M Suijkerbuijk,Suzanne P Lutgens,Annelot F Schoffelen,Peter M Schneeberger

doi:10.3201/eid2309.161710

Abstract

During October–December 2015, 29 patients in a hospital in the Netherlands acquired nosocomial infection with a multidrug-resistant, New Delhi-metallo-β-lactamase–positive Klebsiella pneumoniae strain. Extensive infection control measures were needed to stop this outbreak. The estimated economic impact of the outbreak was $804,263; highest costs were associated with hospital bed closures.

Highlights

During October 1–December 30, 2015, an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae containing an New Delhi-metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-1 plasmid affected 29 patients residing in Jeroen Bosch Hospital (’sHertogenbosch, the Netherlands), a 683-bed tertiary teaching hospital
Six months after the start of the outbreak, 2,964 patients had been flagged as at-risk patients; >95% of these patients had been screened, and a total of 29 NDM carriers were identified
The NDM-1 outbreak at Jeroen Bosch Hospital in the Netherlands in 2015 was associated with substantial costs incurred by the hospital, estimated at $804,263 or €653,801, which was 12% of the total budget allocated that year for medical microbiology and infection prevention, and $27,700 per patient

Summary

Introduction

During October 1–December 30, 2015, an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae containing an NDM-1 plasmid affected 29 patients residing in Jeroen Bosch Hospital (’sHertogenbosch, the Netherlands), a 683-bed tertiary teaching hospital. Estimates of the cost of outbreaks of multidrug-resistant bacteria in healthcare institutions are scarce. We assessed the total costs of this outbreak on the basis of interviews and data from the affected hospital.

Results

Conclusion