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

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2015Author
Navas, Encarna
Torner Gràcia, Núria
Broner, Sonia
Martínez, Anna
Bartolomé, Rosa
Domínguez García, Àngela
Other authors
Working Group for the Study of Outbreaks of Acute Gastroenteritis in Catalonia
Suggested citation
Navas, Encarna;
Torner Gràcia, Núria;
Broner, Sonia;
Godoy i García, Pere;
Martínez, Anna;
Bartolomé, Rosa;
Domínguez García, Àngela;
.
(2015)
.
Economic costs of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis due to norovirus in Catalonia (Spain), 2010–2011.
BMC Public Health, 2015, vol. 15, núm. 1, p.999.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2289-x.
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Background: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusions: 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.
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BMC Public Health, 2015, vol. 15, núm. 1, p.999European research projects
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