Economic impact of surgical site infection prevention across surgical units at Gemelli University Hospital: insights from a point prevalence survey

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) place a significant burden on healthcare systems, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated costs. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most prevalent HAIs, often surpassing the cost of the surgical procedures themselves. Aim: To evaluate the economic impact of a preventive intervention designed to reduce the prevalence of SSIs at Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli (FPG) IRCCS. Methods: A point prevalence survey (PPS) was conducted in June 2023 and June 2024 at FPG IRCSS, following the protocol of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The study analysed data from hospitalized patients, comparing the prevalence of SSIs before and after implementation of a preventive intervention (bundle approach). An economic evaluation was performed using a budget impact model, estimating cost savings from the reduction in SSI cases. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess variations in the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: The prevalence of SSIs decreased from 2.5% in 2023 to 1.4% in 2024, representing a 44% reduction. The estimated number of SSI cases decreased from 2287 to 1281, resulting in a cost reduction of approximately 31.6 million in direct healthcare expenses. The projected economic benefits for 2025 and 2026 suggest further savings if the downward trend continues. Discussion: The findings indicate that targeted preventive measures reduce the prevalence and associated costs of SSIs significantly. The reduction rate exceeds previously reported figures in the literature, emphasizing the effectiveness of the intervention, and underline the need for broader implementation of prevention strategies to enhance patient safety and economic sustainability. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Healthcare Infection Society. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).