Cost-Effectiveness of Vancomycin vs. Cefazolin for Heart Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Giorgio Zanetti, Sue J. Goldie, Richard Platt
Primary Institution: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Hypothesis
Is vancomycin more effective and cost-efficient than cefazolin for perioperative prophylaxis in coronary artery bypass graft surgery?
Conclusion
Vancomycin is usually more effective and less expensive than cefazolin for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Supporting Evidence
- Vancomycin resulted in 7% fewer surgical site infections compared to cefazolin.
- Routine vancomycin use saved $1,170,000 per 10,000 patients compared to routine cefazolin.
- Cefazolin resulted in fewer infections and deaths than no prophylaxis.
Takeaway
Using vancomycin instead of cefazolin can help prevent more infections and save money during heart surgery.
Methodology
Decision-analytic models were used to compare clinical outcomes and costs of no prophylaxis, cefazolin, and vancomycin in coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Limitations
The study did not model the relationship between antibiotic prophylaxis and resistance, which may impact the results.
Participant Demographics
Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
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