Frequency of Infection during Fever Episodes among Long-Term Care Residents

Empirical data regarding the frequency of infection during fever episodes among women in long-term care facilities are lacking.

We conducted a case-series analysis of women long-term care residents enrolled in a randomized trial evaluating cranberry capsules to reduce bacteriuria plus pyuria across twenty-one long-term care facilities in CT, USA. Fever episodes identified during adverse event surveillance were assessed using established guidelines for older adults. Among fever episodes, infections were classified using standardized infection surveillance definitions in long-term care residents.

We identified 123 fever episodes among 80 women long-term care residents. Median age was 88 years (range, 65-101), and 81% (N=65) had dementia. Among 123 fever episodes, 79 (64%) met criteria for 86 total infections (lower respiratory tract, N=43; pneumonia, N=27; gastroenteritis, N=9; urinary tract, N=7).

Data from this study suggest that approximately two-thirds of fever episodes involve infection among women in long-term care facilities. These data may guide provider assessments of fever in older adult women in long-term care facilities.