The Burden of Infection in Long-Term Care

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 674-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry J. Strausbaugh ◽  
Carol L. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Nosocomial Infections ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

AbstractAvailable data, although fragmentary, indicate that infections impose a large burden on long-term–care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States. Endemic infections occur with frequencies estimated to range between 1.64 and 3.83 million per year. These estimates rival or exceed the annual tally for nosocomial infections in acute-care settings. Infections associated with outbreaks caused by respiratory, gastrointestinal, and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens burden LTCFs even further. As judged by antimicrobial use, transfers to hospital, and mortality figures, infections in LTCFs are not trivial. Moreover, annual costs associated with these infections appear to exceed $1 billion. Recognition of the burden associated with infection in LTCFs helps to identify research priorities for this rapidly growing area of healthcare.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Contact Precautions on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Long-term Care Across the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1676-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J Morgan ◽  
Min Zhan ◽  
Michihiko Goto ◽  
Carrie Franciscus ◽  
Bruce Alexander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Standard Precautions ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Contact Precautions ◽  
Care Facilities

Abstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common cause of health care–associated infections in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends contact precautions for the prevention of MRSA within acute care facilities, which are being used within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for LTCFs in a modified fashion. The impact of contact precautions in long-term care is unknown. Methods To evaluate whether contact precautions decreased MRSA acquisition in LTCFs, compared to standard precautions, we performed a retrospective effectiveness study (pre-post, with concurrent controls) using data from the VA health-care system from 1 January 2011 until 31 December 2015, 2 years before and after a 2013 policy recommending a more aggressive form of contact precautions. Results Across 75 414 patient admissions from 74 long-term care facilities in the United States, the overall unadjusted rate of MRSA acquisition was 2.6/1000 patient days. Patients were no more likely to acquire MRSA if they were cared for using standard precautions versus contact precautions in a multivariable, discrete time survival analysis, controlling for patient demographics, risk factors, and year of admission (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, .85–1.12; P = .71). Conclusions MRSA acquisition and infections were not impacted by the use of active surveillance and contact precautions in LTCFs in the VA.

scholarly journals Prevalence of advanced directives in the geriatric population with in long-term care facilities in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-178
Author(s):  
Ateequr Rahman ◽  
Druti Shukla ◽  
Lejla Cukovic ◽  
Kirstin Krzyzewski ◽  
Noopur Walia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Living Wills ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Advanced Directive ◽  
Advanced Directives ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Care Facilities

Advanced directives, such as Living Wills and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, provide the ability to identify, respect, and implement an individual's wishes for medical care during serious illness or end-of-life care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of advanced directives amongst the residents of long-term care facilities in the United States. A total of 527 cases were extracted from 2018 National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, which was collected by the National Center for Health Statistics through the surveys of residential care communities and adult day services centers. Advanced directive rates were higher in patients 90 years of age and above as compared to other age groups. Nursing home residents were more likely to have advanced directives than other long term care facilities. There was no significant difference among males and females in the rate of advanced directives. Nursing home and Hospice residents had more advanced directives compared to other facilities. The Black population had the highest rate of advanced directive preparedness. Overall, the finding of this study revealed that there was a significant difference in the preparedness of DNR orders and Living Wills by patient demographics and the type of long-term care facility. Offering advanced directive services at public health/social services facilities can enhance the rate of advanced directive preparedness. Advanced directives ease the stress and anxiety of patients, family, and friends during difficult times.

Improving the Fate of Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Need for Policy

2021 ◽  
pp. e1-e3
Author(s):  
R. Tamara Konetzka
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
New York Times ◽  
The United States ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Approximately 40% of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been linked to long-term care facilities.1 Early in the pandemic, as the scope of the problem became apparent, the nursing home sector generated significant media attention and public alarm. A New York Times article in mid-April referred to nursing homes as “death pits”2 because of the seemingly uncontrollable spread of the virus through these facilities. This devastation continued during subsequent surges,3 but there is a role for policy to change this trajectory. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print January 28, 2021: e1–e3. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306107 )

Trends in the Supply of Long-Term-Care Facilities and Beds in the United States

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlene Harrington ◽  
Susan Chapman ◽  
Elaine Miller ◽  
Nancy Miller ◽  
Robert Newcomer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

scholarly journals Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Global and Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-Yu Chen ◽  
Shio-Shin Jean ◽  
Yu-Lin Lee ◽  
Min-Chi Lu ◽  
Wen-Chien Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sequence Type ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Care Facilities

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) has become a major public health concern. Moreover, its colonization among residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is associated with subsequent infections and mortality. To further explore the various aspects concerning CRE in LTCFs, we conducted a literature review on CRE colonization and/or infections in long-term care facilities. The prevalence and incidence of CRE acquisition among residents of LTCFs, especially in California, central Italy, Spain, Japan, and Taiwan, were determined. There was a significant predominance of CRE in LTCFs, especially in high-acuity LTCFs with mechanical ventilation, and thus may serve as outbreak centers. The prevalence rate of CRE in LTCFs was significantly higher than that in acute care settings and the community, which indicated that LTCFs are a vital reservoir for CRE. The detailed species and genomic analyses of CRE among LTCFs reported that Klebsiella pneumoniae is the primary species in the LTCFs in the United States, Spain, and Taiwan. KPC-2-containing K. pneumoniae strains with sequence type 258 is the most common sequence type of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae in the LTCFs in the United States. IMP-11- and IMP-6-producing CRE were commonly reported among LTCFs in Japan. OXA-48 was the predominant carbapenemase among LTCFs in Spain. Multiple risk factors associated with the increased risk for CRE acquisition in LTCFs were found, such as comorbidities, immunosuppressive status, dependent functional status, usage of gastrointestinal devices or indwelling catheters, mechanical ventilation, prior antibiotic exposures, and previous culture reports. A high CRE acquisition rate and prolonged CRE carriage duration after colonization were found among residents in LTCFs. Moreover, the patients from LTCFs who were colonized or infected with CRE had poor clinical outcomes, with a mortality rate of up to 75% in infected patients. Infection prevention and control measures to reduce CRE in LTCFs is important, and could possibly be controlled via active surveillance, contact precautions, cohort staffing, daily chlorhexidine bathing, healthcare-worker education, and hand-hygiene adherence.

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