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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copays + 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $20-$25,000+ |
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A staph infection is a bacterial infection, usually of the skin, that can enter the bloodstream and cause serious or fatal complications. It typically causes a red, sometimes painful, boil on the skin and, if it enters the blood, can cause a fever and low blood pressure.
Typical costs: | - For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for staph infection treatment typically consist of an over-the-counter medication or a prescription drug copay[1] of $10-$85 or more -- depending on whether the drug is generic, preferred or non-preferred -- a doctor visit copay of $5-$30 or more and possibly a hospital copay or coinsurance of 10%-50%. Staph infection treatment typically is covered by health insurance.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, staph infection treatment can cost less than $20 for a minor skin infection that requires over-the-counter antibiotic cream or a prescription antibiotic and up to $200 or more for recurring skin infections that require months of treatment with a prescription cream. It can cost $1,000 or more for outpatient administration of IV antibiotics for a more serious or antibiotic-resistant infection. And it can cost more than $6,000-$25,000 or more for a serious systemic infection that requires hospitalization and IV antibiotics -- and up to almost $200,000 or more if there are major complications such as organ failure.
- For example, Drugstore.com charges less than $10 for over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment[2] . It charges less than $20 for a course of oral amoxicillin or cephalexin. It charges about $100 for three tubes of generic mupirocin prescription ointment, or almost $220 for the brand-name equivalent Bactroban, which is sometimes used over a period of months to treat recurring skin infections. Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[3] in Nebraska charges $200 to almost $400 to administer a round of IV antibiotics, and this could total several thousand dollars for multiple rounds of treatment.
- Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Kansas charges between about $6,000 and about $24,000 for hospitalization and treatment for septicemia, not including doctor fees, and estimates the hospital stay at two to eight days. And Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[4] in Nebraska charges between almost $12,000 and more than $44,000, not including doctor fee, to treat a severe infection that requires more than four days in the hospital, but charges can go up to between almost $100,000-$180,000 or more of there are major complications such as organ failure.
Related articles: Annual Physical, Health Insurance
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What should be included: | - A staph infection of the skin often can be diagnosed with a visual exam, but if it has entered the bloodstream, a laboratory culture typically is required.
- For a minor staph infection of the skin, a doctor might recommend treatment with an over-the-counter triple antibiotic cream or prescribe oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin[5] . For a more stubborn or antibiotic-resistant infection that is not life-threatening, several outpatient treatments with IV antibiotics might be recommended.
- For a life-threatening staph infection that has spread to the blood, causing sepsis, hospitalization and treatment with IV antibiotics might be required. If the infection is an MRSA[6] infection, caused by bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotics normally used, it can be especially serious and difficult to treat.
- MedicineNet.com offers an overview[7] of staph infections.
Additional costs: | - In a small number of cases, a staph skin infection can lead to scalded skin syndrome[8] which can require hospitalization and IV antibiotics and cost thousands of dollars.
Discounts: | - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator[9] for clinics with sliding fee scales based on income. Many hospitals and doctors give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System[10] in California offers a 35% discount.
- Some drug manufacturers offer patient assistance programs. Any patient without prescription drug coverage who also is not eligible for Medicare typically qualifies for Together Rx Access[11] , a discount card that offers 25%-40% off many brand-name drugs.
Shopping for staph infection treatment: | - A family doctor or dermatologist can diagnose and prescribe treatment for a simple staph infection. The American Academy of Dermatology offers a dermatologist locator[12] , and FindUrgentCare.com offers an urgent care center locator[13] .
- For a serious infection that might have spread to the blood, it is necessary to go to an emergency room. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a hospital comparison tool[14] that lists hospitals near a chosen zip code, how far away they are and whether they offer emergency services.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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External Resources: | - kff.org/health-costs/fact-sheet/prescription-drug-trends-fact-sheet-may-2010/
- www.drugstore.com/search/search_results.asp?N=0&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=All...
- tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
- tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000837/
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007261.htm
- www.medicinenet.com/staph_infection/article.htm
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002328/
- findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.togetherrxaccess.com/p/prescription-savings/about-together-rx-access/enroll.aspx
- www.aad.org/find-a-derm
- www.findurgentcare.com/
- www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/(S(efntd2saaeir2l5pgarwuvvg))/search.aspx?AspxAut...
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