Significance of pharyngeal colonization with aerobic gram-negative bacilli in elderly institutionalized men.
The prevalence of pharyngeal colonization with aerobic Gram-negative rods was studied on three occasions during one year in 68 elderly males resident on two long-term care wards. For the three surveys, pharyngeal carriage was identified in 43%, 43%, and 37% of residents. Each resident tended to remain either colonized or noncolonized. Pharyngeal colonization was associated with resident incontinence, the development of infection, and increased mortality during the year of observation.
Nicolle
L E
LE
McLeod
J
J
McIntyre
M
M
MacDonell
J A
JA
D000332:Aerobiosis; D000368:Aged; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*