| Abstract [eng] |
Despite advances in healthcare services, healthcare-associated infections are one of the most common adverse events in healthcare delivery. As the population ages, the demand for long-term care facilities is increasing. Residents of long-term care facilities are at particularly high risk of infections and more severe morbidity due to old age, comorbidities, and other causes. Purpose of the study: to determine the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and assess their management in Lithuanian long-term care facilities. Objectives: to assess the prevalence of risk factors in Lithuanian LTCFs (1); to assess the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and identify the most common types of healthcare-associated infections in Lithuanian LTCFs (2); to determine the knowledge of LTCF staff on healthcare-associated infections, their prevention, and prevention and control measures used in LTCFs (3). Methods. Analysis of data on infections in LTCFs collected between 2022 and 2023. An anonymous survey of LTCF staff and analysis of the responses were also conducted. Results. 62.6% of the population of the long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is of working age. 44.8% of the population was disoriented, 15.2% had difficulties moving, and 34.5% had incontinence. The comorbidities of the population were mainly in the group of cardiovascular diseases. Risk factors and comorbidities were more prevalent in the older population. The prevalence of infections acquired in Lithuanian LTCFs during the year was 45.3%, with COVID-19 (59.4%), respiratory (24.1%) and urinary tract (6.8%) infections accounting for the largest proportion. The population acquired between 1 and 4 infections during the study. 62.9% of the LTCF staff answered 3 out of 4 survey questions correctly, 21.3% answered all of them correctly. Basic infection prevention and control measures are applied in Lithuanian LTCFs, but 55.1% of the HAI staff stated that the facility does not have an infection surveillance programme. Conclusions. Risk factors are most prevalent in the older population of the LTCFs. The prevalence of infections in LTCFs is relatively high, with COVID-19, respiratory and urinary tract infections accounting for the majority of acquired infections. Infections were more common in the risk population. Lithuanian LTCF staff healthcare-associated infection knowledge is good, routine infection prevention and control measures are implemented in the facilities, but little attention is paid to infection surveillance and prevalence assessment. Keywords: infections, long-term care facilities, infection prevention and control. |
