title: Infections and antimicrobial use in Australian residential aged care facilities: a comparison between local and international prevalence and practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In July 2011, 29 residential aged care facilities (RACF) located in the Grampians rural region, Victoria, participated in the Grampians healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and antimicrobial use point prevalence study.
  
  
  METHODS
  On a single day, trained infection control consultants collected data using two surveys. The RACF survey enabled collection of information (e.g. occupancy levels) about each RACF and its residents. The resident survey was completed for eligible high-level care residents who presented with signs and symptoms of a HAI and/or were prescribed an antimicrobial. A literature review was undertaken so comparisons could be made against similar studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Grampians prevalence of residents presenting with ≥1 HAI (3.8%) was higher than the pooled prevalence (2.3%) for four international studies (P=0.01). The Grampians prevalence of residents prescribed ≥1 antimicrobial (8.3%) was higher than the pooled prevalence (5.8%) for eight international studies (P=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of the Grampians residents presenting with ≥1 HAI and residents prescribed ≥1 antimicrobial were both observed to be significantly higher than pooled data from similar international studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Grampians Region, 21 McLachlan Street, Horsham, Vic. 3400, Australia.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Noleen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents