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infectious outbreaks in nursing homes
Etiology:
1) diarrhea*
a) Escherichia coli O157:H7
b) Salmonella
c) Shigella
d) rotavirus
e) Giardia
f) cryptosporidia
g) Clostridium difficile
2) respiratory tract infections*
a) tuberculosis
b) pneumococcus
c) Moraxella
d) Haemophilus
e) pertussis
f) influenza
g) parainfluenza
h) respiratory syncytial virus
3) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
4) vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
5) skin infections
a) group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes)
b) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
c) scabies
* two most common infectious outbreaks
Management:
- influenza vaccination of health care workers reduces influenza mortality in elderly patients under their care.
Related
antibiotic resistance in nursing homes
antibiotic side effects in the elderly
General
infections in the elderly
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American
College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
- Norman D, UCLA Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine & Board
Review, Marina Del Ray, CA, Sept 12-15, 2001