Frequency, factors and costs associated with injection site infections: Findings from a national multi-site survey of injecting drug users in England

Table 4 Estimated annual costs for injecting drug users (IDUs) in England seeking healthcare for injection site infections.

	Estimated costs in 1,000 pounds sterling (£)
	Low unit costs†		High unit costs†
Estimated number of IDUs in England	140,000*	215,000**	140,000*	215,000**
Estimated cost of GP consultations	191	293	265	406
Estimated cost of A&E visits	1,587	2,437	2,037	3,129
Estimated cost of hospital bed days	17,442	26,786	28,750	44,151
Total	19,220	29,516	30,527	46,881

* Low estimate of number of IDUs is the number of heroin or crack-cocaine injectors, form a study aiming to estimate the total number of heroin and crack-cocaine users [24].
** High estimate of number of IDUs is the estimated number of IDUs (all drugs) obtained from a study using an evidence synthesis method to estimate number of injecting drug users [25].
† Low and High Unit costs based on Unit Costs of Health and Social Care 2006 [22] and NHS cost database [21]. Unit cost GP consultation: Low £18 & High £25 [22]. Average Unit cost for a lower cost investigation at Accident and Emergency (Emergency Department): Low £67, & High £86 [22, 21]. Average Unit costs per hospital stay were based on the low and high average cost for non-elective adult acute care in a hospital for a skin infection from NHS cost database [21], Alternative estimates are produced using daily unit costs and assuming they stay in hospital for 2 or 4 days [4, 8, 23]

ISSN: 1471-2334