Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
11:17
Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
Published on: August 30, 2018
Antibiotic use in long-term care facilities.
Nick Daneman1, Andrea Gruneir, Alice Newman
1Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. nick.daneman@sunnybrook.ca
The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|September 29, 2011
Summary
Antibiotic use is common in long-term care facilities, with significant variation between institutions. Focused antimicrobial stewardship interventions are needed to standardize antibiotic prescribing for residents.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Antibiotic stewardship is crucial for reducing resistance, adverse events, and costs.
- Optimizing antibiotic use in long-term care facilities is a growing priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the prevalence of antibiotic use among long-term care facility residents.
- To assess the variability of antibiotic use across these institutions.
Main Methods:
- A population-based, point-prevalence study was conducted in Ontario, Canada.
- Utilized linked healthcare databases for 37,371 elderly residents across 363 long-term care facilities.
- Facilities were grouped into quintiles based on antibiotic dispensing rates for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- 5.9% of residents were prescribed antibiotics; common agents included nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin.
- Many treatment courses were prolonged (≥10 days), with a significant proportion exceeding 90 days, suggesting prophylaxis.
- A 5-fold variation in antibiotic use was observed between the highest and lowest-use quintiles, persisting after adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic use is prevalent and highly variable among long-term care residents.
- Substantial institutional differences in antibiotic prescribing indicate a need for standardized practices.
- Targeted antimicrobial stewardship programs can help optimize antibiotic indications and durations in these settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...