Hospital-acquired infections in Norwegian long-term-care institutions. A three-year survey of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic treatment in nursing/residential homes, including 4500 residents in Oslo
Bm. Andersen et M. Rasch, Hospital-acquired infections in Norwegian long-term-care institutions. A three-year survey of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic treatment in nursing/residential homes, including 4500 residents in Oslo, J HOSP INF, 46(4), 2000, pp. 288-296
Point prevalence studies of hospital-acquired infections among the elderly
in 65-70 long-term care facilities (LTCF) were carried out once a year over
a three-year period in Oslo city, Norway. They showed an overall rate of 6
.5% of hospital-acquired infections among 13 702 residents. The infection r
ate was approximately the same as in hospitals and twice as high as among h
ospitalized long-term psychiatric patients. Residents who had received surg
ical treatment within the previous three months had a high rate of postoper
ative infections, especially wound infections (14.8%). During the study per
iod, the LTCFs were found to be understaffed and overcrowded. The had few p
rivate rooms, a lack of bathrooms and toilets, no isolation facilities and
deficient ventilation systems. The economic consequences of hospital-acquir
ed infections in these LTCFs were extra costs in medical and nursing care a
nd antibacterial treatment of 157 500 Nkr/day (22 500 USD). There would be
a substantial cost-benefit in effective preventative measures against hospi
tal-acquired infections in long-term care institutions. (C) 2000 The Hospit
al Infection Society.