A cost analysis of surgical site infection for hip fracture patients using national clinical audit data.

Aim: To estimate the direct economic burden of surgical site infections (SSIs) following hip fracture surgery within the Irish healthcare system. Methods: A micro-costing analysis using clinical audit data was undertaken to estimate the direct in-patient costs of treating SSIs after hip fracture surgery. Costs were calculated for the acute episode of care and stratified by demographic and clinical characteristics, allowing for a more detailed assessment of potential disparities in healthcare outcomes and associated expenditure across different patient groups. Results: Over 12 months, 16 (0.4%) hip fracture patients developed an SSI. The total cost was €712,898, with a mean of €44,556 per patient. Differences by subgroup were noted: males €35,418, females €50,039, aged ≥80 €49,712 and