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Long-Term Care Facilities

45% of outbreaks reported to the Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene occurred in nursing homes.

  • Infections impose a huge burden on long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States, with an estimated 765,000 to 2.8 million infections per year
  • Morbidity and mortality due to infections in LTCFs is substantial, with a death rate of up to 40 percent in hospitalized nursing home residents
  • Infections are among the most frequent causes of transfer from LTCFs to acute care hospitals
  • Data suggest that infections could result in as many as 380,000 deaths among nursing home residents annually
  • These infections cause cost an estimated $673 million to $2 billion annually  
  • Urinary tract, respiratory and skin and soft tissue infections are the most common infections in nursing home residents; however, infections such as conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and influenza also pose a serious threat
  • In a DHMH statewide prevalence study of mechanically ventilated patients, 100% of the 10 representative LTCFs sampled had at least one patient colonized or infected with Acinetobacter baumannii.

WHY DO I NEED AN INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAM?

Infections are costly and time consuming, but an effective facility-wide infection prevention program can help contain costs and preserve staff time.

Infection prevention and assessment should be followed through every step of a resident's stay. There are many aspects of a successful infection prevention and control program in the long-term care setting.

HOW CAN THE MARYLAND INFECTION CONTROL GROUP HELP ME?

Our consultants are experts in the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SHEA/APIC guidelines for infection prevention and will help develop an effective policy tailored to meet the specific needs of your facility.