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The Burden of Infection in Long-Term Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Larry J. Strausbaugh  and
Carol L. Joseph
Larry J. Strausbaugh*
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
Carol L. Joseph
Affiliation:
Geriatrics, Rehabilitation, and Extended Care Division, Honolulu Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
*
Medical Service (P-3-ID), Veterans Affairs Medical Center, PO Box 1034, Portland, OR 97207
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Abstract

Available data, although fragmentary, indicate that infections impose a large burden on long-term–care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States. Endemic infections occur with frequencies estimated to range between 1.64 and 3.83 million per year. These estimates rival or exceed the annual tally for nosocomial infections in acute-care settings. Infections associated with outbreaks caused by respiratory, gastrointestinal, and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens burden LTCFs even further. As judged by antimicrobial use, transfers to hospital, and mortality figures, infections in LTCFs are not trivial. Moreover, annual costs associated with these infections appear to exceed $1 billion. Recognition of the burden associated with infection in LTCFs helps to identify research priorities for this rapidly growing area of healthcare.

Type
Topics in Long-Term Care
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 21 , Issue 10 , October 2000 , pp. 674 - 679
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2000

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