title: Biofilm-based infections in long-term care facilities.
abstract: The recent trend in the early admittance to long-term care facilities (LTCFs) of severely injured patients transferred from general hospitals has given a new dynamic to the incidence of healthcare-associated infections, including biofilm-based infections related to the implant of urinary and intravascular catheters, and the onset of pressure ulcers. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections lead in most of the surveys on LTCFs, approximately 80% of urinary tract infections in these settings being due to the short- or long-term insertion of a urinary catheter. Furthermore, the implantation of intravascular catheters is often responsible for catheter-related bloodstream infections caused by the development of an intraluminal biofilm. Pressure ulcers, frequently occurring in bedridden patients admitted to LTCFs, are also susceptible to infection by biofilm-growing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, the biofilm formation on the wound being the main reason for its delayed healing.
authors.affiliation: IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Microbial Biofilm Laboratory, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donelli
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vuotto
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007380:Intermediate Care Facilities; D008134:Long-Term Care; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*