Infections in acute older stroke inpatients undergoing rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
The present study compares the incidence of various infections among patients in acute and rehabilitation wards and examines the risk factors and pathogens involved in rehabilitation ward infections.


METHODS
The study included 341 acute stroke patients (age, ≥65 yrs). The assessment of risk factors was done by comparison of patients with or without infection, urinary tract infection, and pneumonia. Possible precipitating factors in each comparison were included in the statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Ninety-five (27.9%) patients experienced infections, and the most common type in the rehabilitation ward was urinary tract infection. The frequency of incidence of pneumonia in the rehabilitation ward (6.7%) was significantly lower than in the acute ward (23.8%) (P < 0.001). Patients with infection had a longer rehabilitation ward stay compared with those without infection (30.9 vs. 18.8 days, P = 0.002). A postvoid residual urine volume greater than 50 ml (odds ratio, 2.314; 95% CI, 1.204-4.448, P = 0.012) was found to be the most important risk factor for infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection may prolong the length of stay in acute stroke patients in a rehabilitation ward. The present study provides important information for clinicians to help identify risk factors for infection.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Chien-Min
CM
Chen
Hung-Chih
HC
Hsu
Wen-San
WS
Tsai
Chia-Hao
CH
Chang
Kai-Hua
KH
Chen
Chang-Zern
CZ
Hong
D000368:Aged; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D014554:Urination