Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Automated Hospital Room Disinfection Utilizing a Novel Aerosolized Hydrogen Peroxide Microdroplet Disbursing Technology
Published on: February 24, 2026
Infection control and the long-term care facility
1National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethhesda, MD 20892, USA.
Abstract:
Approximately 70% of health care associated pathogens are resistant to one or more antibiotics. Experts maintain that most antimicrobial-resistant pathogens develop from antibiotic overuse and inappropriate antibiotic selection or treatment duration. Up to 70% of long-term care residents receive at least one course of an antimicrobial agent during a one-year period. Four types of infections occur most often among long-term care residents: urinary tract, respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue, and gastrointestinal tract, and outbreaks are common. Diagnostic uncertainty, failure to recognize fever's clinical manifestation in the elderly, treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria, and bacterial colonization contribute to antibiotic overuse. Recent infection control guidelines recommend more targeted antibiotic utilization review. Recommendations are presented for implementing antibiotic utilization programs. Hand washing and other measures, such as droplet precautions, are discussed. Economic disincentives surrounding antimicrobial research are highlighted.
Insights
Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat, with overuse in long-term care facilities driving pathogen resistance. Implementing targeted antibiotic stewardship programs and infection control is crucial to combat this growing public health challenge.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare epidemiology
- Infectious diseases
- Public health
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern, with approximately 70% of healthcare-associated pathogens exhibiting resistance.
- Overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics are primary drivers of AMR development.
- Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents frequently receive antimicrobials, increasing their risk of infections and resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings.
- To identify factors contributing to antibiotic overuse in long-term care residents.
- To recommend strategies for implementing effective antibiotic utilization programs and infection control measures.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and expert opinions on antimicrobial resistance.
- Analysis of common infections and contributing factors to antibiotic overuse in LTCFs.
- Discussion of infection control guidelines and economic factors influencing antimicrobial research.
Main Results:
- Healthcare-associated pathogens show high rates of antibiotic resistance.
- Urinary tract, respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal infections are common in LTCFs, with frequent outbreaks.
- Diagnostic uncertainty, undertreatment of fever in the elderly, and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria contribute to overuse.
Conclusions:
- Targeted antibiotic utilization review and stewardship programs are recommended for LTCFs.
- Enhanced infection control practices, including hand hygiene and droplet precautions, are essential.
- Addressing economic disincentives for antimicrobial research is vital for future solutions.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:29Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...