title: [Nosocomial infections in nursing homes in Oslo].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Residents of long-term care facilities are at risk of infection and may deliver resistant microbes to hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A point prevalence study was performed, including 3,474 residents in 2000 and 4,650 in 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The infection rate increased from 5.6% in 2000 to 7.5% in 2001 (p < 0.001). Urinary tract infections predominated. Pneumonia increased from 2000 to 2001 (0.7%-1.4%; p < 0.01), as did the rate of operated patients (2.9%-6.5%, p < 0.001), while postoperative wound infections was reduced (p = 0.02). Antibiotics were given to 5.8% in 2000 and 6.1% in 2001. Microbiological assessments were available from 29.6% infections in 2000 and 21.4% in 2001. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli predominated. Methicillin-resistant S aureus was found in only two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased burden of operated patients in understaffed long-term care facilities may have caused an increasing rate of infections. Staffing with sufficient and competent personnel and intensified infection control work is needed.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for sykdomsforebygging hos risikogrupper, Klinikk for forebyggende medisin, Medisinsk divisjon, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo. bjorgmarit.andersen ulleval.no
authors.forename: Bjørg Marit
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasch
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D000078329:Workforce