Estimating the Cost of Nosocomial Candidemia in the United States

Abstract

Sir—Candida species are the fourth most common cause of bloodstream infections in the United States [1] and are associated with an attributable mortality of up to 38% [2]. Recent estimates published in this journal suggest that each case of nosocomial candidemia results in excess costs of $34,123 per Medicare patient and $44,536 per private insurance patient, with national costs of nosocomial candidemia exceeding $200 million per year in the United States [3]. However, since that report was generated, our understanding of the epidemiology of nosocomial candidemia has significantly improved.