Infection Control in Long-Term Care Facilities
Open Access
- 1 September 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 31 (3), 752-756
- https://doi.org/10.1086/314010
Abstract
Infections are common in long-term care facilities. The most frequent endemic infections are urinary infection, respiratory infection, and skin and soft tissue infections. Outbreaks also occur frequently, and some facilities have a high prevalence of colonization of residents with antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Our understanding of infections and the development of infection-control programs for long-term care facilities have progressed greatly over the past 15 years. Whereas the occurrence of infections has been described and specific guidelines for infection-control programs in long-term care facilities have been developed, there is still limited evaluation of the effectiveness of programs or specific interventions to support prioritization of infection-control resources. In addition, the spectrum of patients and care delivered in long-term care facilities continues to evolve. Increasingly, chronic care patients, including those requiring chronic respirator therapy, dialysis, or percutaneous feeding tubes, are cared for in these facilities. Our understanding of prevention of infection in these patients remains limited. Important questions include what interventions may prevent endemic infections, what are the most effective means to identify outbreaks early, and what interventions may minimize the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Programs to optimize antimicrobial use need to be developed. Thus, although progress in understanding and practice has been made, important questions remain.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Requirements for Infrastructure and Essential Activities of Infection Control and Epidemiology in Out-of-Hospital Settings: A Consensus Panel ReportInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1999
- Development of Nursing Home Infection ControlInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1999
- Lack of Transmission of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Three Long-Term–Care FacilitiesInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1999
- Control of Transmission of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium in a Long-Term–Care FacilityInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1999
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Long-Term—Care FacilitiesInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1998
- Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-Term-Care FacilityInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1997
- Percutaneous Feeding Tube Changes in Long-Term-Care Facility PatientsInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1996
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Long-Term–Care FacilitiesInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1996
- Antimicrobial Use in Long-Term–Care FacilitiesInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1996
- Impact of Vitamin A Supplementation on the Incidence of Infection in Elderly Nursing-home Residents: A Randomized Controlled TrialAge and Ageing, 1992