Issue

Institutional Strategy for the Prevention and Management of Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease in the LTC Setting

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:18:46 -0500

Influenza and pneumococcal disease are major causes of morbidity and mortality within the long-term care (LTC) continuum. Influenza kills an average of 36,000 Americans annually, with more than 90% of those deaths occurring in the elderly. While vaccination rates of LTC facility residents for influenza and pneumococcal disease have increased over the past decade, rates now appear to have reached a plateau. Since frail or debilitated individuals may not respond to vaccination with a protective immune response, low rate of immunization in healthcare workers, contact care, and communal living fur

Implementing Long-Term Care Infection Control Guidelines Into Practice: A Case-Based Approach

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:46:07 -0500

Infections result in significant morbidity and mortality among residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms is increasing along with the medical complexity of residents in this setting. However, given the heterogeneity of LTCFs and diversity of residents, the management and prevention of infections and antimicrobial resistance is often not straightforward. In addition, infection prevention methods must be balanced with other clinical goals and the optimization of residents’ functional status, comfort, and quality of life. This article ai

Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term Care

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:54:35 -0500

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common cause of bacteremia in long-term care (LTC) patients and may present with subtle nonspecific symptoms. UTIs should be suspected in older adults in LTC who manifest a sudden problem with incontinence, decreased physical or cognitive function, or loss of appetite. When a UTI is suspected, empiric antibiotics should be started based on the local infection pattern. Typically, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is the major first-line empiric agent. Antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent UTIs may be required in postmenopausal women with frequent recurrent U

Pharmacotherapy Update 2009, Part II: Infectious Disease, Positive Beers Criteria, and Pharmacist Interventions

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:58:33 -0500

This article is part II of a two-part series update on pharmacotherapy, and it focuses on infectious disease, positive Beers criteria, and pharmacist interventions. Part I appeared in the December issue of the Journal and focused on cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry.

Introduction

This article is intended to provide a review of recently published literature of relevance to the care of older adults. It focuses on studies that involve pharmacotherapeutic interventions, including both risks and benefits. It is important for clinicians to decide independently how the results

Washington Update

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:03:43 -0500

Congressional Democrats and Republicans Work Overtime to Meld Two Reform Plans That Offer Much for Eldercare

Senate Democrats were planning to meet to determine what route to take with healthcare reform following Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown’s January 19 Senate upset, as this issue of Annals of Long-Term Care went to press. Senate and House Democrats had been working overtime to try to reconcile differences between the chambers’ healthcare reform plans, but the Republican victory in Massachusetts makes it doubtful that Senate Democrats will be able to muster th

Why I’m a Member of the American Geriatrics Society

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:06:43 -0500

Ijoined the American Geriatrics Society in the early ‘90s. Since 1992, I’ve chaired the Geriatric Medicine Test Committee that writes the test for the certificate of added qualifications in geriatrics for the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Family Medicine. There were several AGS members on the committee, and I learned about the Society through them. I became interested after hearing about the opportunities for continuing education in geriatrics that AGS provided.

I practice in a rural area, and the opportunities for continuing education—especially in geriatr

NINDS Shingles Information Page

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:10:46 -0500

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First Report®

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:14:50 -0500

Infectious Diseases Society of America 47th Annual Meeting
October 29-November 1, 2009; Philadelphia, PA

POSTER

Clinical Experience with Daptomycin for the Treatment of Patients with Bacteremic Skin and Skin-Structure Infections

Philadelphia, PA—Data from the Cubicin® Outcomes Registry and Experience (CORE) 2005-2008, a retrospective, multicenter, observational chart review to assess characteristics and clinical outcome of patients receiving daptomycin, support the use of daptomycin for skin and skin structure infections (SSSI) bacteremia (BSI). Researche

JAGS Abstracts: From the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:20:45 -0500

CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Effect of Influenza Vaccination of Nursing Home Staff on Mortality of Residents: A Cluster-Randomized Trial

Magali Lemaitre, MPH, Thierry Meret, MD, Monique Rothan-Tondeur, PhD, Joel Belmin, MD, Jean-Louis Lejonc, MD, Laurence Luquel, MD, François Piette, MD, Michel Salom, MD, Marc Verny, MD, PhD, Jean-Marie Vetel, MD, Pierre Veyssier, MD, and Fabrice Carrat, MD, PhD

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of staff influenza vaccination on all-cause mortality in nursing home residents.

DESIGN: Pair-matched cluster-randomized trial.

SETTIN