Deterministic sensitivity analysis (assumes the electronic audit and feedback system leads to a 25% reduction in the incidence of HCAIs)
| Variable (decreasing and increasing the base case by 25%) | Base case value | Difference in total cost | Difference in annual number of HCAIs avoided | Difference in annual number of surviving patients | Difference in annual number of days HCPs are absent from work | Difference in annual number of occupied hospital bed days |
| Annual number of adult hospital admissions in an average hospital | 76 053 | -£1 918 167 – -£3 380 981 | 686–1131 | 23–39 | not applicable | 5769–9614 |
| Probability of patients acquiring a HCAI | 0.047 | -£1 947 422 – -£3 429 740 | 695–1146 | 24–39 | not applicable | 5846–9742 |
| Percentage reduction in the probability of patients acquiring a HCAI following introduction of the electronic audit and feedback system into current practice | 25% | -£1 947 422 – -£3 429 740 | 695–1146 | 24–39 | not applicable | 5846–9742 |
| Mean number of front-line HCPs per hospital | 4473 | -£2 687 764 – -£2 689 332 | 916–925 | not applicable | 64–107 | not applicable |
| Probability of HCPs acquiring a HCAI | 0.017 | -£2 687 789 – -£2 689 374 | 916–926 | not applicable | 65–108 | not applicable |
| Percentage reduction in the probability of HCPs acquiring a HCAI following introduction of the electronic audit and feedback system into current practice | 25% | -£2 687 218 – -£2 689 944 | 916–926 | not applicable | 65–108 | not applicable |
| Probability of patients dying from a HCAI | 0.03 | -£2 688 974 – -£2 688 189 | not applicable | 24–39 | not applicable | |
| Length of time HCPs are absent from work and replaced by agency/bank staff (days) | 5.00 | -£2 687 812 – -£2 689 350 | not applicable | not applicable | 65–108 | not applicable |
| Percentage of HCPs not absent from work after acquiring a HCAI | 10% | -£2 688 669 – -£2 688 493 | not applicable | not applicable | 89–84 | not applicable |
| Estimated percentage of HCPs admitted into hospital after acquiring a HCAI | 0.1% | -£2 688 558 – -£2 688 604 | not applicable | not applicable | 86–86 | 7794–7794 |
| Mean additional length of ward stay as a result of a HCAI (days) | 9.1 | -£1 958 861 – -£3 418 301 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | 5845–9742 |
| Mean number of days spent in critical care | 3.97 | -£2 687 965 – -£2 689 197 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | 7794–7794 |
| Percentage of patients placed in isolation after acquiring a HCAI | 10% | -£2 642 792 – -£2 734 370 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | 7794–7794 |
| Cost of electronic audit and feedback system per bed per day | £1.50 | -£2 758 387 – -£2 618 775 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| Probability of absent HCPs being replaced by bank/agency staff | 0.14 | -£2 683 792 – -£2 693 370 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| Mean number of adult inpatient beds per hospital | 510 | -£2 761 706 – -£2 624 306 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| Percentage of all discharges resulting in a follow-up hospital outpatient appointment | 34% | -£2 677 735 – -£2 699 427 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| Percentage of absent HCPs replaced by bank staff | 70% | -£2 687 250 – -£2 689 912 | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
HCAI, healthcare-associated infection; HCP, healthcare practitioner.