title: [Incidence of infection acquired at a health center].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nosocomial infections in geriatric patients have specific features in geriatric health care facilities and services. The incidence of nosocomial infection in a long-term care hospital is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried in L'AlianCa from Barcelona, a long-term care hospital of 138 beds of geriatric rehabilitation or convalescence. All nosocomial infections occurred in 1999 were recorded. The criteria of nosocomial infection were those of McGeer, adapted to make them suitable to a long-term care hospital. The statistical methods employed were the Student'st test to compare means and chi2 to compare proportions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of nosocomial infections was 2.8 per 1,000 resident care days, showing a statistically significant increase in the group aged over 75 (p = 0.009). Infected patients had longer hospital stay and greater physical dependence. Lower respiratory tract infections were the most common type of infection accounting for the 39.7% of the cases. The mortality rate was greater in the infected group (RR: 2.61; CI 95%, 1.60-4.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients are at greater risk of contracting nosocomial infections. It is necessary to develop infection control programs useful for the long-term care hospital.
authors.affiliation: Centro Sociosanitario L'AlianCa, Barcelona, Spain. Pau.Sanchez@chcr.scs.es
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez Ferrín
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carral Rodríguez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alaez Alvarez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintana Riera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male
vernacular_title: Incidencia de infección adquirida en un centro sociosanitario.