title: Prevalence of infections among residents of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in Hong Kong.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A point prevalence study was conducted to study the epidemiology of common infections among residents in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in Hong Kong and their associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in Hong Kong were selected by stratified single-stage cluster random sampling. All residents aged 65 years or above from the recruited homes were surveyed. Infections were identified using standardised definitions. Demographic and health information-including medical history, immunisation record, antibiotic use, and activities of daily living (as measured by Barthel Index)-was collected by a survey team to determine any associated factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected from 3857 residents in 46 Residential Care Homes for the Elderly from February to May 2014. A total of 105 residents had at least one type of infection based on the survey definition. The overall prevalence of all infections was 2.7% (95% confidence interval, 2.2%-3.4%). The three most common infections were of the respiratory tract (1.3%; 95% confidence interval, 0.9%-1.9%), skin and soft tissue (0.7%; 95% confidence interval, 0.5%-1.0%), and urinary tract (0.5%; 95% confidence interval, 0.3%-0.9%). Total dependence in activities of daily living, as indicated by low Barthel Index score of 0 to 20 (odds ratio=3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-6.2), and presence of a wound or stoma (odds ratio=2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.9) were significantly associated with presence of infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey provides information about infections among residents in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the territory. Local data enable us to understand the burden of infections and formulate targeted measures for prevention.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Jordan, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C Sm
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C Sw
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: N Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Chik
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: A Ty
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Aged; Infection; Residential facilities