Blood Culture pathway- Health economic analysis

[Research] To create an economic model with real world data (RWD) to estimate the clinical and financial impacts of improving the pre-analytical phase of the blood culture practices in England. This will be used to inform future national guidance on specific diagnostics and care pathways for detecting infection and reducing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Key objectives of this project

To update the model with English RWD wherever possible.

To validate the model inputs, assumptions and results with subject matter experts (SMEs).

To update the report accordingly.

To include additional levels of detail within the model, to more accurately capture the resource use, costs and benefits of optimising the blood culture pathway.

To conduct additional analyses in the existing model, addressing other challenges.

To design and develop a flexible interface for users inputting their own data and generate trust-specific outcomes and business cases.

To develop the report into a manuscript.

To submit the manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal (+/- submission to a pre-print journal) and provide peer-reviewed, referenceable evidence.

Strategic rationale

This aims to support the necessary changes in the blood culture pathway to save lives and improve patient outcomes from sepsis.