Economic costs of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis due to norovirus in Catalonia (Spain), 2010-2011

To determine the direct and indirect costs of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis (AVG) due to norovirus in closed institutions (hospitals, social health centers or nursing homes) and the community in Catalonia in 2010-11. Information on outbreaks were gathered from the reports made by epidemio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC public health 2015-10, Vol.15 (1), p.999-999, Article 999
Main Authors: Navas, Encarna, Torner, Nuria, Broner, Sonia, Godoy, Pere, Martínez, Ana, Bartolomé, Rosa, Domínguez, Angela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adult
Caliciviridae Infections - economics
Caliciviridae Infections - epidemiology
Caliciviridae Infections - virology
Catalonia
Catalunya
Child
Community Health Centers
Cost
Costs and Cost Analysis
Disease Outbreaks - economics
Economic aspects
Epidemiologia
Epidemiology
Female
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis - economics
Gastroenteritis - epidemiology
Gastroenteritis - virology
Health Care Costs
Health Facilities
Hospitals
Humans
Male
Norovirus
Nursing Homes
Public health
Residence Characteristics
Salut pública
Spain - epidemiology
Virus
Viruses
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Summary:To determine the direct and indirect costs of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis (AVG) due to norovirus in closed institutions (hospitals, social health centers or nursing homes) and the community in Catalonia in 2010-11. Information on outbreaks were gathered from the reports made by epidemiological surveillance units. Direct costs (medical visits, hospital stays, drug treatment, sample processing, transport, diagnostic tests, monitoring and control of the outbreaks investigated) and indirect costs (lost productivity due to work absenteeism, caregivers time and working hours lost due to medical visits) were calculated. Twenty-seven outbreaks affecting 816 people in closed institutions and 74 outbreaks affecting 1,940 people in the community were detected. The direct and indirect costs of outbreaks were € 131,997.36 (€ 4,888.79 per outbreak) in closed institutions and € 260,557.16 (€ 3,521.04 per outbreak) in community outbreaks. The cost per case was € 161.76 in outbreaks in closed institutions and € 134.31 in community outbreaks. The main costs were surveillance unit monitoring (€ 116,652.93), laboratory diagnoses (€ 119,950.95), transport of samples (€ 69,970.90), medical visits (€ 25,250.50) and hospitalization (€ 13,400.00). The cost of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis due to norovirus obtained in this study was influenced by the number of people affected and the severity of the outbreak, which determined hospitalizations and work absenteeism. Urgent reporting of outbreaks would allow the implementation of control measures that could reduce the numbers affected and the duration of the illness and thus the costs derived from them.
ISSN:1471-2458
1471-2458
DOI:10.1186/s12889-015-2289-x