Nearly 1 in 5 waitlisted patients in Hawaii have infectious diseases, study shows

Nearly one in five waitlisted patients who remain hospitalized in Hawaii after the need for acute care ends suffers from an infectious disease, a new report shows.

The report by Hawaii Health Information Corp., which analyzes statewide health care data, found the most common disease among waitlisted patients was septicemia — a severe blood infection that can lead to organ failure or death, which costs hospitals $4.7 million annually.

The number of waitlisted patients with this potentially life-threatening disease more than doubled between 2006 and 2011. Other top conditions among these patients include parasitic diseases and cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection.

The report is based on 2011 discharge data from all Hawaii hospitals, except Tripler Army Medical Center.