Septicemia is the most costly condition in the U.S.

Septicemia is the most costly health condition in the U.S., according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

According to the report, septicemia, a systemic illness caused by bacteria in the bloodstream,  is on the rise, and is also the most costly health condition in the U.S, costing about  $15.4 billion in 2009. Other key findings from the report:

• Septicemia was the sixth most common reason for hospitalization in the U.S. in 2009.
• The number of hospital stays for this condition more than doubled between 2000 and 2008.
• E-coli and MRSA were two common causes of septicemia.
• People from lower income communities and people in non-urban areas were hospitalized more frequently for septicemia.
• The mortality rate for septicemia was 16%, unchanged since 2000, but more than 8 times the mortality rate for other diagnosis, which was 2%.

(Sources: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov, October 2011; The Advisory Board Daily Briefing, http://advisory.com, October 13, 2011)