Hospital-acquired infections in Norwegian long-term-care institutions. A three-year survey of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic treatment in nursing/residential homes, including 4500 residents in Oslo.
Point prevalence studies of hospital-acquired infections among the elderly in 65-70 long-term care facilities (LTCF) were carried out once a year over a three-year period in Oslo city, Norway. They showed an overall rate of 6.5% of hospital-acquired infections among 13 762 residents. The infection rate was approximately the same as in hospitals and twice as high as among hospitalized long-term psychiatric patients. Residents who had received surgical treatment within the previous three months had a high rate of postoperative infections, especially wound infections (14.8%). During the study period, the LTCFs were found to be understaffed and overcrowded. They had few private rooms, a lack of bathrooms and toilets, no isolation facilities and deficient ventilation systems. The economic consequences of hospital-acquired infections in these LTCFs were extra costs in medical and nursing care and antibacterial treatment of 157 500 Nkr/day (22500 USD). There would be a substantial cost-benefit in effective preventive measures against hospital-acquired infections in long-term care institutions.
Andersen
B M
BM
Department of Hospital Infection, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407, Oslo, Norway.
Rasch
M
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003441:Crowding; D003625:Data Collection; D004363:Drug Utilization; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014691:Ventilation
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents