Figure 3. Effect of suboptimal adherence to preoperative S. aureus screening and treatment effectiveness on cost per life year gained (discounted) per 1000 patients for different screening scenarios.

Scenario 1 is treatment of S. aureus carriers identified by screening; scenario 2 is treatment of S. aureus carriers identified by screening plus treatment of all patients that were not screened. In scenario 1 the life years gained and costs increase, or decrease, at a constant rate resulting in an invariable cost per life years gained. Note the negative costs on the y-axis representing cost-savings.