Opebecan for meningococcal sepsis - horizon scanning review
NHSC
Record Status
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.
Citation
NHSC. Opebecan for meningococcal sepsis - horizon scanning review. Birmingham: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC). New and Emerging Technology Briefing. 2002
Authors' objectives
To summarise the current research on opebecan for meningococcal sepsis.
Authors' conclusions
- Clinical impact: Meningococcal sepsis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Should treatment with opebecan prove to be successful for severe septicaemia in children (up to 900 children in England and Wales) it is possible that the patient group may be widened to include both less severe paediatric disease and adults.
- Service impact: For optimum effect opebecan will need to be given early in the disease, initially for those with severe septicaemia this is likely to be within a paediatric intensivecare facility.
- Additional factors: Although relatively rare, meningococcal infection receives a significant amount of media attention and is of major concern to parents.
- Financial and overall NHS impact: No cost data for opebecan are available, although the cost per patient is likely to be high. Costs may be saved in the long term by a reduction in morbidity and disability. If this treatment proves to be successful in a paediatric setting, the indications may be expanded to adult disease with additional cost implications.
Department of Public Health&Epidemiology The University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom Tel: +44 121 414 7831; Fax: +44 121 414 2269 Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk