title: Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in long-term care facilities in Catalonia. VINCat Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have become receptors of patients with a high risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of HAIs in LTCFs.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period 2011-2014 2 annual prevalence studies were performed according to Healthcare-associated infections in long-term-care facilities (HALT) study definitions and methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 28,360 patients were included in the study. The overall prevalence rate of HAIs was 10.2%. Subacute units and palliative care units showed the highest rates, 22.3% and 18.7%, respectively. Main infections were respiratory tract infection (35.8%) and urinary tract infection (35.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results were higher than other similar experiences, a fact that suggests the need to extend the specific strategies and programs to LTCFs, and ensuring a sufficient number of specialised staff in infection control.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Geriatría, Hospital Santa Maria de Lleida, Lleida, España.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Infección Nosocomial, Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, España.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barcenilla
authors.affiliation: Programa VINCat, Hospital de Bellvitge, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Cataluña, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: elimon@bellvitgehospital.cat.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limón
authors.affiliation: Programa VINCat, Hospital de Bellvitge, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Cataluña, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.affiliation: Programa VINCat, Hospital de Bellvitge, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Cataluña, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudiol
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Centros sanitarios de cuidados prolongados; Healthcare-associated infections; Infección relacionada con la asistencia sanitaria; Long-term care facilities; Prevalence; Prevalencia