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Nurse-reported infections in a long term care facility.
1Family Practice Residency Miami Valley Hospital.
Family Practice Research Journal
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Nursing home infections are common, with urinary tract infections (UTIs) being most frequent. Proteus and E. Coli were common UTI pathogens, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
- Healthcare Epidemiology
Background:
- Nursing homes harbor significant infectious disease burdens.
- Nurse-reported data offers valuable insights into infection epidemiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the types and pathogens of infectious episodes in a nursing home population.
- To identify patterns of infection recurrence and culture practices.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 350 nurse-reported infectious episodes over two years.
- Microbial identification from cultures for urinary, respiratory, and skin infections.
Main Results:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were most common, followed by respiratory and skin infections.
- Common pathogens included Proteus and E. Coli (urinary), Proteus (respiratory), and Staph Aureus (skin).
- Recurrence rates were substantial, particularly for skin (39%) and urinary (38%) infections.
Conclusions:
- Infectious episodes, especially UTIs, are a significant issue in nursing homes.
- Understanding common pathogens and recurrence is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.