Non-respiratory infections – specific considerations in care homes

Ewan, Victoria; Gordon, Adam

Abstract

This review provides an update on current evidence surrounding the epidemiology, treatment and prevention of non-respiratory infections in care homes. It covers urinary tract infection (UTI), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), decubitus ulcers, scabies, tinea infections and viral and bacterial gastroenteritis. The care home sector provides a unique ecological niche for infections, housing frail older people with multiple co-morbidities and frequent contact with healthcare services in a semi-closed environment. This leads to differences in the diagnosis and management of infections – particularly of outbreaks – when compared with community-dwelling counterparts. It is essential that care home staff play a role in the early recognition, isolation and treatment of infections but they are often not trained as healthcare professionals – this presents a challenge to systematised response. Effective interface between care homes, public health and infection control services are essential to the delivery of care, yet it is not clear how most-effectively to structure such links.

Citation

Ewan, V., & Gordon, A. Non-respiratory infections – specific considerations in care homes. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Deposit Date: Oct 12, 2010
• Journal: Reviews in Clinical Gerontology
• Print ISSN: 0959-2598
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-9036
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Nursing homes, residential facilities, Homes for the Aged, Infection, Infection Control
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1012519
• Publisher URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=RCG