Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Hospital Infection Control Response to an Epidemic Respiratory Virus Threat

The authors used cost data from hospitals in Singapore in a model to assess cost-effectiveness of infection control protocols in response to a respiratory virus epidemic. The model was based on transmission from a single case in the hospital setting, and did not assume widespread community transmission. The authors concluded that it was most cost-effective to use a step-up approach to infection control measures, as necessary, based on how an outbreak evolves vs. applying very stringent measures at the start of the outbreak and then scaling them back when it becomes apparent they are too broadly applied.