The role of economic evaluation in infection control

Given the rise in health care-related expenditures, decision-makers are inc reasingly relying on both clinical effectiveness and economic efficiency wh en making health care decisions. The field of infection control is not immu ne to this rise in cost-consciousness among health care managers. This arti cle clarifies the role of economic evaluation within infection control for both the user and producer of economic evaluations in this field. The stren gths and drawbacks of the several different types of economic analysis-cost minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit. and cost utility analysis- will be discussed. Additionally, the important features of two specific met hods used for economic evaluation-decision analytic modeling and economic a nalysis alongside a clinical trial-will be outlined. Finally, the criteria by which economic analyses should be judged will be provided. As economic e valuation and health services research continue, to play an increasingly im portant role in health care, it will be vital for infection control advocat es to partner with individuals from diverse fields to give decision-makers the type of information they need to make choices.