Infections
Residents of long-term care facilities have a high prevalence of infections, which are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, hospital transfers, and a source of considerable expense. Residents are at increased risk of infections because they are undergoing physiologic aging, have a greater number of comorbidities, and they live in an institutional environment. The most common outbreaks are respiratory, gastrointestinal tract and skin infestations. The common endemic infections are in the urinary tract, and in skin or soft tissue. The principle components of an infection control program are to prevent infections, identify outbreaks early, and minimize prevalence of resistant organisms.
