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. 2016 Feb 1;11(2):e0138526.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138526. eCollection 2016.

Economic Cost of Campylobacter, Norovirus and Rotavirus Disease in the United Kingdom

Clarence C Tam  1   2 , Sarah J O'Brien  3   4
Affiliations

Economic Cost of Campylobacter, Norovirus and Rotavirus Disease in the United Kingdom

Clarence C Tam et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the annual cost to patients, the health service and society of infectious intestinal disease (IID) from Campylobacter, norovirus and rotavirus.

Design: Secondary data analysis.

Setting: The United Kingdom population, 2008-9.

Main outcome measures: Cases and frequency of health services usage due to these three pathogens; associated healthcare costs; direct, out-of-pocket expenses; indirect costs to patients and caregivers.

Results: The median estimated costs to patients and the health service at 2008-9 prices were: Campylobacter £50 million (95% CI: £33m-£75m), norovirus £81 million (95% CI: £63m-£106m), rotavirus £25m (95% CI: £18m-£35m). The costs per case were approximately £30 for norovirus and rotavirus, and £85 for Campylobacter. This was mostly borne by patients and caregivers through lost income or out-of-pocket expenditure. The cost of Campylobacter-related Guillain-Barré syndrome hospitalisation was £1.26 million (95% CI: £0.4m-£4.2m).

Conclusions: Norovirus causes greater economic burden than Campylobacter and rotavirus combined. Efforts to control IID must prioritise norovirus. For Campylobacter, estimated costs should be considered in the context of expenditure to control this pathogen in agriculture, food production and retail. Our estimates, prior to routine rotavirus immunisation in the UK, provide a baseline vaccine cost-effectiveness analyses.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Estimated cases, healthcare consultations and hospitalisations due to Campylobacter, norovirus and rotavirus disease in the United Kingdom, 2008–9.
Area of circles is proportional to the estimated number of cases.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Estimated costs to patients and the health service due to Campylobacter, norovirus and rotavirus disease in the United Kingdom, 2008–9.
Area of circles is proportional to the estimated cost
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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