title: Cleaning, resistant bacteria, and antibiotic prescribing in residential aged care facilities.
abstract: Residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) are at risk of colonization and infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic prescribing is often inappropriate and not based on culture-proven infection. We describe low levels of resident colonization and environmental contamination with resistant gram-negative bacteria in RACFs, but high levels of empirical antibiotic use not guided by microbiologic culture. This research highlights the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and environmental cleaning in aged care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: rcowan@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Raquel U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: Deakin University School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kishan
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia; Saint John of God Pathology, Microbiology Laboratory, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: Deakin University School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Emmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sneath
authors.affiliation: Deakin University School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butwilowsky
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: N Deborah
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotics; Cleaning; Environmental contamination; Extended-spectrum β-lactamase; Residential aged care facilities