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Review
. 2017 Apr;19(4):18.
doi: 10.1007/s11908-017-0576-7.

Challenges and Strategies for Prevention of Multidrug-Resistant Organism Transmission in Nursing Homes

Ghinwa Dumyati  1 , Nimalie D Stone  2 , David A Nace  3 , Christopher J Crnich  4   5 , Robin L P Jump  4   5
Affiliations
Review

Challenges and Strategies for Prevention of Multidrug-Resistant Organism Transmission in Nursing Homes

Ghinwa Dumyati et al. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Nursing home residents are at high risk for colonization and infection with bacterial pathogens that are multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We discuss challenges and potential solutions to support implementing effective infection prevention and control practices in nursing homes.

Recent findings: Challenges include a paucity of evidence that addresses MDRO transmission during the care of nursing home residents, limited staff resources in nursing homes, insufficient infection prevention education in nursing homes, and perceptions by nursing home staff that isolation and contact precautions negatively influence the well being of their residents. A small number of studies provide evidence that specifically address these challenges. Their outcomes support a paradigm shift that moves infection prevention and control practices away from a pathogen-specific approach and toward one that focuses on resident risk factors.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile; Infection prevention and control; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Multidrug-resistant organisms; Nursing home.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Drs Dumyati, Stone, Nace, and Crnich declare no conflicts of interests.

Dr. Jump has received research grants from Pfizer.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Funding

This work was supported by the New York State Department of Health (GD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Emerging Infections Program (GD); RFA# CK-15-004 (CJC); CDC #2016-N-17729 (RLJ)], the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ; R18HS022465 (CJC), HHSA290201000018I (CJC); R18 HS022465-01 A1 (DAN); HHSP2332015000201 (RLJ)], Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center [NIH P30 AG024827 (DAN)], the Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC; CC, RLJ), and Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development [RFA# HX-16-006 & CRE-12-291 (CJC); PPO 16-118-1 (RLJ)].

The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the United States Government.

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