Open Longevity Science

2008, 2 : 96-99
Published online 2008 September 17. DOI: 10.2174/1876326X00802010096
Publisher ID: TOLSJ-2-96

Prevalence and Management of Infections in Nursing Homes in Uppsala County, Sweden

Åsa Eklund , Per Hartvig , Inger Tverin , Mette Palm and Staffan Sylvan
Strama Upp, University Hospital, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.

ABSTRACT

Nursing homes are considered a risk for antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of infection episodes and antibiotic treatments in nursing home settings. A prospective study was conducted in 17 nursing homes in 2006. Nurses were asked to register each infection episode that occurred during the study period.

152 infection episodes were registered in 817 nursing home residents. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) constituted 52% of the episodes followed by respiratory tract infections (RTIs) (18%) and soft tissue/skin infections (16%). Trimethoprim (34%) and fluoroquinolones (27%) were used for treatment of UTIs. RTIs were treated with tetracyclins (39%) or penicillins (36%) and soft tissue/skin infections with penicillins (76%).

Results were similar to three studies in Swedish nursing homes performed during the past ten years, indicating that management of nursing home infections has not changed much. Further improvement of handling infections in nursing homes is needed.

Keywords:

Infection, nursing homes, antibiotic resistance, uninary tract infections.