Because infection is a major cause of hospitalization among nursing home residents, we assessed infection control activities and related employee health policies in Minnesota nursing homes, using a questionnaire. The majority of institutions (378/440, 85.9%) responded. We found traditional isolation techniques were widely used, but blood and urine precautions were employed in less than half of the homes. Infection surveillance tended to focus on chart review. Antibiotic utilization studies were done in 76% of homes. Procedures for urinary catheter care were often at variance with current recommendations. Employee health policies required a physical examination of a new employee in a minority of institutions. Policies required by Minnesota statute (eg, skin testing for tuberculosis and documentation of employee illness) were carried out by most institutions. Infection control policies and procedures in nursing homes should be redefined so that, where appropriate, they are more consistent with practices in acute-care hospitals.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.