Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maureen Banks, Andrew B. Phillips
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of implementing hand hygiene technology on compliance and infection rates in a long-term acute care hospital. The results showed a significant increase in hand hygiene compliance and a reduction in C. difficile infection rates. The technology also provided additional benefits such as data tracing of patient and staff contacts.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jen-Chieh Lee, Yuan -Pin Hung, Bo -Yang Tsai, Pei -Jane Tsai, Wen -Chien Ko
Summary: Severe CDIs in the ICU were not rare in this study. The ileus group tended to have more severe presentation, with severe and fulminant CDIs accounting for 65.2% and an ICU mortality rate of 39.1%. Clinicians should be aware of abdominal symptoms and signs other than diarrhea, such as ileus, for timely diagnosis and management of CDI.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
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
Pediatrics
Ryan M. Hanson, Amy J. Wagner
Summary: Severe, complicated Clostridium difficile colitis is rare in pediatric patients and little is known about its medical and surgical management in this population. A case report of a 15-year-old female patient with severe, complicated C difficile colitis successfully treated with diverting loop ileostomy and colonic lavage is presented. This approach, instead of subtotal colectomy and end ileostomy, should be considered as an alternative for pediatric patients with severe, complicated C difficile colitis.
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
Veterinary Sciences
Jeffrey Scott Weese, Nathan Slovis, Joyce Rousseau
Summary: This study longitudinally evaluated Clostridium difficile shedding in neonatal foals and mares in a referral hospital neonatal intensive care unit. The results showed Clostridium difficile was isolated from 25% of samples, with at least one positive sample in 40% of foals and 31% of mares. Various ribotypes were identified, with ribotype 078 predominating.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(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
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ines Zollner-Schwetz, Elisabeth Koenig, Robert Krause, Christian Pux, Lisa Laubreiter, Walter Schippinger
Summary: An outbreak of COVID-19 in three LTCFs in Graz, Austria resulted in 36 infected residents, with 33% mortality rate among them. Six residents were asymptomatic. About 58% of infected residents required hospitalization. Additionally, 19 healthcare workers also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Universal testing and infection control measures were crucial in ending the outbreaks.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Seigo Mitsutake, Shohei Yano, Tatsuro Ishizaki, Ko Furuta, Akira Hatakeyama, Mika Sugiyama, Shuichi Awata, Hideki Ito, Kenji Toba
Summary: This study examines the association between the severity of functional and cognitive impairment and discharge to long-term care facilities (LTCFs) among older hospitalized patients. The results show a significant association between the severity of cognitive impairment and discharge to LTCFs.
ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ibrahim A. Al-Zahrani
Summary: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a global threat to many healthcare settings. Excessive use of antimicrobials, lack of optimal antibiotic policies, and suboptimal infection control practices have fueled the development of this health issue. Prudent use of antimicrobials and simple infection control measures can significantly reduce infection rates.
SAUDI MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kayo Hirooka, Hiroki Fukahori, Ayako Ninomiya, Sakiko Fukui, Kunihiko Takahashi, Tatsuhiko Anzai, Tomoaki Ishibashi
Summary: This study investigated the association between family involvement and the intention of LTCF residents with dementia to not be hospitalized. The results showed that an advance directive for not hospitalizing was significantly associated with decreased hospital transfers, while family involvement was not associated with hospital transfers.
ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Dinesh Aggarwal, Richard Myers, William L. Hamilton, Tehmina Bharucha, Niamh M. Tumelty, Colin S. Brown, Emma J. Meader, Tom Connor, Darren L. Smith, Declan T. Bradley, Samuel Robson, Matthew Bashton, Laura Shallcross, Maria Zambon, Ian Goodfellow, Meera Chand, Justin O'Grady, M. Estee Torok, Sharon J. Peacock, Andrew J. Page
Summary: This study reviewed all genomic epidemiology studies on COVID-19 in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and found that staff and residents usually had identical or very similar SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Outbreaks typically involved one main cluster, and the same lineages persisted despite infection control measures. It was also observed that the sequencing technique was reliable over time, and when combined with local epidemiology, genomics could help identify probable transmission sources. Multiple studies detected transmission between LTCFs, and the mortality rate among residents was high regardless of the lineage.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Medha N. Munshi, Sarah Sy, Joyce Lekarcyk, Elaine Sullivan
Summary: The implementation of a practical model of diabetes management in LTC facilities can improve staff education and lead to improved diabetes management.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Linda Lapp, Kieren Egan, Lisa McCann, Moira Mackenzie, Ann Wales, Roma Maguire
Summary: This article reviews the research on clinical decision support tools in long-term care facilities and finds that these tools have the potential to improve care delivery and health outcomes in areas such as medication management, pressure ulcer prevention, and dementia management. However, there is variability in results due to the diversity of tool types, users, and contexts, as well as limited validation.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Da Eun Kim, Min Jung Kim
Summary: This study aimed to identify the influencing factors of shared decision-making in long-term care facilities. The findings suggest that staff who have received person-centered care education and possess a higher person-centered attitude and communication behavior are more likely to engage in shared decision-making. Additionally, staff who perceive the care environment as person-centered are also more likely to engage in shared decision-making.
