Bacteremia and French computerized disease surveillance system: financial valorisation of an infectious diseases specialist in a hospital

Objective

Bacteremia surveillance is a mission assumed by the referent person for antimicrobial therapy. We propose an original financial valorization of this activity, using the computerized disease surveillance system (CDSS).

Material and methods

A database collecting community-acquired and care-associated bacteremia was created on January 1, 2009 at the Bethune Hospital, France, using EPI-Info software (EPI Data). This database was used to complete missing data (presence of bacteremia, origin [community-acquired or care-associated], site of infection) in CDSS codes of patients hospitalized in surgical and medical wards (410 beds) during 2009. Financial benefit was assessed by the difference of funds allocated on the basis of CDSS, before and after completion of the missing data.

Results

In 2009, 383 out of the 35,000 patients presented with bacteremia. When missing CDSS codes were added, a financial gain of 229,291 euros was obtained, concerning 64 patients.

Conclusion

Bacteremia surveillance is a transversal task based on quality of care, which may have a positive financial impact. This study may be helpful for clinicians with transversal activities, for whom financial valorization is difficult to implement in the CDSS, particularly without hospitalization beds. The lack of complete notification in the CDSS may cause a substantial financial loss.