title: Antibiotic use and infections in nursing homes.
abstract: Residents in nursing homes have a higher risk of developing infections that require antibiotic treatment than elderly people living at home. Use of antibiotics may cause adverse effects and result in the development of antimicrobial resistance.
  
  
  
  Data on healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic use in 540 Norwegian nursing homes were retrieved from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s point prevalence survey in the spring of 2016. Based on information on drug, dosage and indication, we assessed whether the use of antibiotics for the treatment of UTIs was in accordance with the National Guidelines for the Use of Antibiotics in Primary Care.
  
  
  
  UTI was the most commonly occurring type of infection, with a prevalence of 2.7 %. Prescription of first-line antibiotics accounted for approximately 60 % of the prescriptions for treatment of this illness. Choice of drug, dosage and microbiological testing when treating lower UTIs was not always in accordance with the national guidelines. The study showed widespread use of methenamine in Norwegian nursing homes.
  
  
  
  The survey indicates that compliance with the national guidelines when treating lower UTIs could be improved with regard to the choice of drug, dosage and microbiological testing. Norwegian nursing home doctors should also consider whether their use of methenamine is in accordance with national and international recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for resistens- og infeksjonsforebygging Avdeling for smittevernregistre Folkehelseinstituttet.
authors.forename: Torunn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alberg
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for resistens- og infeksjonsforebygging Folkehelseinstituttet.
authors.forename: Øyunn
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Holen
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for legemiddelepidemiologi Folkehelseinstituttet.
authors.forename: Hege Salvesen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Blix
authors.affiliation: Seksjon for allmennmedisin Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindbæk
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for resistens- og infeksjonsforebygging Folkehelseinstituttet.
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bentele
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for resistens- og infeksjonsforebygging Folkehelseinstituttet.
authors.forename: Hanne Merete
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Eriksen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008709:Methenamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; D008709:Methenamine