Incontinence-associated dermatitis in a long-term acute care facility

Area of Science:

• Wound Care
• Dermatology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) and pressure ulcers (PUs) are significant concerns in healthcare settings.
• Long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities manage complex patients, necessitating an understanding of skin integrity issues.
• Prevalence and incidence data for IAD and PUs in LTAC populations are crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of IAD and PUs at LTAC admission.
• To identify factors associated with IAD and PUs in LTAC patients.
• To measure the incidence of IAD and PUs during LTAC stays.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, repeated-measures study was conducted over 12 weeks.
• 171 patients admitted to 4 LTAC units were evaluated using the "Hospital Survey on Incontinence and Perineal Skin Injury" instrument.
• Data collection included initial assessment within 24 hours of admission and weekly reevaluations.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of IAD on admission was 22.8% (39/171).
• The prevalence of PUs on admission was 35.1% (60/171).
• The incidence of new IAD was 7.6% (10/132), and PU incidence was 3.6% (4/111) among those without PUs at admission.

Conclusions:

• LTAC facilities exhibit a higher prevalence of PUs on admission compared to acute or long-term care settings.
• The incidence of PUs in LTAC patients was lower than reported in acute and long-term care.
• LTAC IAD admission prevalence mirrored acute care rates but exceeded long-term care rates.