Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. C. Bennett, M. Welton, J. Bos, G. Moon, A. Berkley, L. Kavlak, J. Pearson, G. Turabelidze, J. Frazier, N. Fehrenbach, C. K. Brown
Summary: COVID-19 outbreaks occurred in Missouri LTCFs from April to July 2021, resulting in infections among staff and residents. Vaccinated residents had lower hospitalization and death rates. Investigations suggested that staff members were likely responsible for introducing the virus. Adherence to mitigation measures varied among visited facilities.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ji-Eun Joo, Yu Hu, Sujin Kim, Hyunji Kim, Sunyoung Park, Ji-Hoon Kim, Younghyun Kim, Sung-Min Park
Summary: This study introduces an indoor-monitoring LiDAR sensor for patients with Alzheimer disease in long-term care facilities, utilizing optoelectronic analog front-end and neural processing unit for motion detection and decisions, offering a potential solution of low-cost, low-power sensors.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jadwiga Wojkowska-Mach, Michal Brudlo, Mariusz Topolski, Tomasz Bochenek, Estera Jachowicz, Malgorzata Siewierska, Anna Rozanska
Summary: This research compared the use of microbiology testing, healthcare-associated infection (HAI) epidemiology, and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) in Polish LTCFs with other European countries. Results showed lower AMC rates in Polish LTCFs and skin infection as the most common type of infection.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Letter
Immunology
Scott T. Shimotsu, Ariel R. L. Johnson, Ethan M. Berke, Daniel O. Griffin
Summary: By introducing a testing strategy and other measures, a long-term care facility in Pennsylvania, USA, was able to achieve a 17-fold lower coronavirus case rate compared to neighboring facilities.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Victoria Chappell, Julia Kirkham, Dallas P. Seitz
Summary: This study investigated the association between staffing levels and antipsychotic prescribing in long-term care facilities. The results showed that increasing staffing levels and improving staffing skill mix can decrease the rate of inappropriate antipsychotic use.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Milou J. Angevaare, Hein P. J. van Hout, Martin Smalbrugge, Annette H. Blankenstein, Cees M. P. M. Hertogh, Jos W. R. Twisk, Karlijn J. Joling
Summary: This study aimed to identify stressors that have the strongest relationship with mood outcomes in older residents of long-term care facilities in the Netherlands. Major life stressors and conflicts with other care recipients and/or staff were found to be most strongly associated with mood outcomes. Multiple stressors had a stronger impact on mood outcomes than single stressors.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Carson T. Telford, Cyndra Bystrom, Teresa Fox, David P. Holland, Sherry Wiggins-Benn, Anjum Mandani, Meshell McCloud, Sarita Shah
Summary: The study evaluated the adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines for COVID-19 in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Fulton County, Georgia. It found that facilities with lower COVID-19 prevalence had significantly higher implementation of IPC recommendations, especially in categories like Social Distancing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This suggests that following current guidelines is essential in reducing transmission in vulnerable populations.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bing-Mu Hsu, Jung-Sheng Chen, I-Ching Lin, Gwo-Jong Hsu, Suprokash Koner, Bashir Hussain, Shih-Wei Huang, Hsin-Chi Tsai
Summary: This study focuses on molecular typing, virulence gene prevalence, and antibiotic resistance pattern of MRSA in LTCFs and hospitals, finding higher MRSA detection rates in hospital environments than LTCF environments, with moist samples being hotspots for MRSA habitats. Approximately 50% of MRSA isolates were multidrug-resistant.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Hu, Ji-Eun Joo, Eunju Choi, Leeho Yoo, Dukyoo Jung, Juh-Hyun Shin, Jeong-Ho Kim, Sung-Min Park
Summary: This paper presents meal-monitoring systems that use electronic weight and temperature sensors to help elderly residents, particularly patients, in LTCFs. These systems enable real-time communication of meal information through wireless networks to the mobile phones of nurses and family members, allowing easy identification of patients who need immediate assistance and providing important information to families about their parents' well-being. Additionally, the systems include a temperature-monitoring feature to prevent tongue burns by notifying patients when a meal is too hot.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Martin Belan, Tiffany Charmet, Laura Schaeffer, Sarah Tubiana, Xavier Duval, Jean-Christophe Lucet, Arnaud Fontanet, Gabriel Birgand, Solen Kerneis
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of exposures and PPE use on the risk of COVID-19 among healthcare workers. Factors such as exposure to infected individuals, wearing PPE, and occupation type were found to be key in predicting COVID-19 risk. The importance of eye protection during patient care for healthcare workers was highlighted.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alba Malara, Marianna Noale, Caterina Trevisan, Angela Marie Abbatecola, Gilda Borselli, Carmine Cafariello, Pietro Gareri, Stefano Fumagalli, Enrico Mossello, Stefano Volpato, Fabio Monzani, Alessandra Coin, Chukwuma Okoye, Giuseppe Bellelli, Stefania Del Signore, Gianluca Zia, Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, Annapina Palmieri, Giorgio Fedele, Graziano Onder
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the measures that could influence the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents in long-term care facilities during the period March 2021-June 2022. The study showed that receiving vaccine booster doses and implementing restrictions on family visits can effectively reduce the probability of infection.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nando Bloch, Jasmin Maenner, Celine Gardiol, Philipp Kohler, Jacqueline Kuhn, Thomas Munzer, Matthias Schlegel, Stefan P. Kuster, Domenica Flury
Summary: In non-outbreak setting in LTCF, hand hygiene and oral hygiene have a beneficial effect on infection rates, while IPC bundles and mass testing seem to be promising in an outbreak setting.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rachael Singer, Gretchen Rodriguez, Bobbiejean Garcia, Anna Nutt, Enyinnaya Merengwa
Summary: This study analyzed the gaps in COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in long-term care facilities in Texas. The findings revealed several deficiencies, including a preference for soap and water over hand sanitizer, lack of awareness about contact time for disinfectants, failure to suspend communal dining and audit hand hygiene and PPE compliance, and continuation of inter-facility group activities and field trips. Additionally, assisted living facilities were less likely than nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities to suspend communal dining and identify dedicated spaces for isolated COVID-19 patients.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Helga Rafael Henriques, Diana Sousa, Jose Faria, Joana Pinto, Andreia Costa, Maria Adriana Henriques, Maria Candida Durao
Summary: This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence on the effect of measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission in LTCFs during outbreaks since 2021. Three levels of interventions (strategic, tactical, and operational measures) were summarized to prevent disease transmission.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Janet K. Sluggett, Max Moldovan, Catherine Lang, David J. Lynn, Lito E. Papanicolas, Maria Crotty, Craig Whitehead, Geraint B. Rogers, Steve L. Wesselingh, Maria C. Inacio
Summary: This study found significant variation in systemic antibiotic use across Australian long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Government-owned non-metropolitan LTCFs and LTCFs with 69-99 residents were less likely to experience high antibiotic use, while a higher prevalence of after-hours medical practitioner services was associated with increased antibiotic use.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hitoshi Yonezawa, Shingo Tanaka, Makito Tanaka, Ryo Kobayashi, Satoshi Takahashi
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for false positives in high-sensitivity HBsAg quantitative tests and reduce the need for neutralization tests. The results showed that younger age, female sex, lower HBsAg values, and reagent improvement were independent risk factors for false positives. The false-positive rate was highest in the range of 0.005-0.049 IU/mL.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nobuaki Kobayashi, Katsushi Tanaka, Suguru Muraoka, Kohei Somekawa, Ayami Kaneko, Sousuke Kubo, Hiromi Matsumoto, Hiroaki Fujii, Keisuke Watanabe, Nobuyuki Horita, Yu Hara, Takeshi Kaneko
Summary: This study identified age, a negative T-SPOT.TB result, elevated CRP levels, and a high NLR as significant independent risk factors for death in hospitalized TB patients. These findings underscore the importance of these parameters in the risk stratification and management of hospitalized TB patients.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Naokuni Hishiya, Kenji Uno, Akiyo Nakano, Mitsuru Konishi, Seiya Higashi, Shuhei Eguchi, Tadashi Ariyoshi, Asami Matsumoto, Kentaro Oka, Motomichi Takahashi, Yuki Suzuki, Saori Horiuchi, Nobuyasu Hirai, Yoshihiko Ogawa, Taku Ogawa, Ryuichi Nakano, Keiichi Mikasa, Kei Kasahara, Hisakazu Yano
Summary: This study revealed intestinal dysbiosis near a CD4 count of 350 in HIV-infected patients undergoing cART. These findings contribute to the understanding of intestinal damage and systemic inflammation in HIV infection.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2024)