Potential savings through single-dose intravenous Dalbavancin in long-term MRSA infection treatment – a health economic analysis using German DRG data

Abstract

Complicated infections such as osteomyelitis, skin and soft tissue infections or endocarditis often require antibiotic therapies that can last up to several weeks. The prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) leads to a dramatic increase in costs. Single-dose intravenous Dalbavancin is a novel antimicrobial agent for the treatment of acute bacterial skin, skin structure and soft tissue infections (ABSSSI) that allows an earlier discharge of patients, resulting in potential savings. Joint, bone and prostheses infections (JBPI) are also related with long LOS. The aim of this study is to determine the economic effects of single-dose intravenous Dalbavancin in suitable patients with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in Germany. For this purpose, an analysis with real-world patient treatment data was performed, which was subsequently validated in a large German hospital. In total, ABSSSI patients with MRSA infections could stay 6.45 days shorter and 2,865 € could be saved while JBPI patients could be discharged eventually 10.6 days earlier and 3,909 € could be saved. Single-dose intravenous Dalbavancin is thus an option for patients with ABSSSI and JBPI who are eligible for discharge.