OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence of hospital-associated infections among the children with acute leukemia and analyze the economic burden so as to provide scientific bases for formulating the hospital infection management strategies.

METHODS A total of 140 children with acute leukemia who were hospitalized in pediatric hematology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from Jan. 1, 2018 to Jun. 30, 2024 were recruited as the research subjects. The clinical data, incidence of infections and cost data were collected. The infection group and the non-infection group were matched in a 1∶1 ratio by propensity score matching method. The length of hospital stay and costs of medical items were compared between the infection group and the non-infection group. The economic burden due to the hospital-associated infections was estimated.

RESULTS Of the 140 children, 59 had hospital-associated infections, with the incidence of infections 42.14%. A total of 125 children who conformed to the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study, among whom 53 pairs were matched successfully by propensity score matching method. The median hospitalization cost was 230, 125.79 yuan in the infection group after the matching, 189, 880.90 yuan in the non-infection group, and there was significant difference between the two groups(Z=-2.038, P=0.042). The direct economic burden due to the hospital-associated infections in the children with acute leukemia was 40, 244.89 yuan. The median costs of western medicine, self-pay and antibiotics were increased most remarkably among all the costs of medical items (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION The targeted surveillance of hospital-associated infections and early warning of suspected cases are the major strategies to reduce the incidence of infections and relieve the economic burden.