Epidemiology of resistant gram-negative bacteria in nursing homes

Resistant gram-negative bacteria (R-GNB) colonization in nursing home patients can cause clinical infection and intrafacility transmission. Limited data exist on the roles of age and function on R-GNB colonization.

A secondary data analysis was performed from a cohort study of 896 patients admitted to 6 Michigan nursing homes between November 2013 and May 2018. Swabs obtained upon enrollment, weekly for 1 month, then monthly until nursing home discharge from 5 anatomical sites were cultured for GNB. R-GNB were defined as resistant to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, or imipenem. Patients with growth of the same R-GNB as the initial positive visit, from any anatomical site at any subsequent visit, were considered persistently colonized. Demographic data, antibiotic use, device use, and physical self-maintenance scales (PSMSs) were obtained upon enrollment. Characteristics were compared between patients with R-GNB colonization versus those without, and those with persistent R-GNB colonization versus those with spontaneous decolonization.

Of 169 patients with a positive R-GNB culture and ≥2 subsequent study visits, 89 (53%) were transiently colonized and 80 (47%) were persistently colonized. Compared to uncolonized patients, persistent and transient R-GNB colonization were associated with higher PSMS score: 1.14 (95% confidence interval or CI, 1.05-1.23; P = .002) and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.19; P = .023), respectively. Persistent colonization was independently associated with longer duration of nursing home stay (1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02; P < .001). Higher readmission rate among persistently colonized patients was observed on unadjusted analysis.

Persistent R-GNB colonization is associated with younger age, functional disability, and prolonged length of nursing home stay. In-depth longitudinal studies to understand new acquisition and transmission dynamics of R-GNB in nursing homes are needed.