Table 2 Definition and quantification of constants

T _PCR

turn-around time of PCR method in days

0.29

in-house data

T _cul

turn-around time of culture method in days

2.5

in-house data

C _PCR

costs for a single PCR test

20.50 €

[14]

C _{cul pos}

costs for a single culture test with positive result

24.10 €

[14]

C _{cul neg}

costs for a single culture test with negative result

6.40 €

[14]

C _f

costs for follow-up screening

6.40 €

As follow-up screening in the majority of cases leads to a negative result, costs for negative culture tests are assessed

C _c

costs for screening a contact patient

6.40 €

As follow-up screening in the majority of cases leads to a negative result, costs for negative culture tests are assessed

Pat _c

number of contact patients

2

Calculation based on in-house data

∅ LOS _reg

average length of stay of regular patients in days

8

Federal Statistical Office [15]

Pat _t

number of total inpatients per year

35,322

in-house data

Pat _r

number of high-risk patients per year

4,367

in-house data

Pat _n.i.

number of patients without indication for a targeted screening per year

30,955

in-house data

C _{MRSA ici}

costs for MRSA caused by incomplete MRSA carrier identification