Clinical characteristics and economic consequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess in Taiwan

BackgroundKlebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) has emerged as an endemic disease in Taiwan, and its prevalence has been increasing in east Asian countries in the past three decades. The utilization of healthcare resources associated with KPLA is assumed to be substantial, and may be of future concern. This study investigated the clinical characteristics and economic burden of KPLA in Taiwan in 2011 and 2012.MethodsAdult patients with KPLA were identified retrospectively in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from January 2011 to December 2012. The clinical characteristics, total and daily hospitalization expenditure, and the risk factors for the costs of KPLA were analyzed.ResultsAmong patients with KPLA, the median cost was $5290.80 in US dollars, and the mean cost was $6337.50 ± $4363.40. Length of hospital stay was the only independent risk factor for the high total hospitalization expenditure. The duration of antibiotic use was nearly the same as the length of hospital stay. The prolonged stay in the general ward (≥21 days) also contributed to the high total cost of hospitalization. The independent risk factors for the high average daily cost of hospitalization were a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index and the requirement of intensive care on admission.ConclusionThe current study is the first to demonstrate the high economic burden resulting from KPLA in a medical center in Taiwan. Standardizing the treatment protocol for KPLA inpatients and introducing an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy center to reduce the length of stay may reduce costs, whereas development of a vaccine may be necessary to tackle endemic KPLA in the future.