title: A national survey of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship structures in Irish long-term care facilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information on infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship activities in Irish long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey detailing IPC and antimicrobial stewardship activities, including staffing and bed capacity, was circulated to Irish LTCFs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-nine LTCFs (61 public, 8 private) were surveyed, 56 (81%) of which had an IPC practitioner. Thirty-five (51%) LTCFs had an IPC committee that met on average 5 times (range, 1-10) during the previous year. LTCFs with IPC practitioners based solely in the facility (n = 17) were more likely to have an IPC committee (P = .027). Antimicrobial guidelines were available in 28% (n = 19) and 16% (n = 11) had an antimicrobial stewardship committee in place. Medical care was provided by general practitioners in 51% (n = 35), by physicians employed by the LTCFs in 35% (n = 24), or by both in 14% (n = 10). Medical care and activities were coordinated in 45% (n = 31) of LTCFs. These LTCFs were more likely to have an IPC committee (P < .001), medical staff training (P < .001), and antimicrobial guidelines (P = .005) in place.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant gaps in Irish LTCFs' IPC and antibiotic stewardship programs and governance structures, highlighting the need for specific LTCF national initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland. sheila.donlon1@hse.ie
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donlon
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dowling
authors.forename: Meaghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.forename: Fidelma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents