Kingston, ON – Infection prevention and control resources and programming in Canadian long-term care facilities fall short of recommended standards, a new Queen's University study shows.
Led by professor of Community Health and Epidemiology Dick Zoutman, the national survey of 488 facilities is the first comprehensive examination of these resources and programs in almost 20 years.
"It's critical that vulnerable long-term care residents be protected from largely preventable infections," says Dr. Zoutman, who is Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care. "More and better-trained infection control professionals are essential to providing effective infection surveillance and control programs."
Findings from the new Queen's study – the results of a 2005 survey – are published in the on-line pre-print version of the American Journal of Infection Control . The study mirrors Dr. Zoutman's earlier, groundbreaking studies of infection prevention and control in Canadian acute-care hospitals, that have led to implementation of increased infection control resources.
Among key findings for Canadian long-term care facilities:
The shortfalls identified in this study mean that many essential infection control activities in long-term care facilities are not being performed, with the end result being increased morbidity, mortality, and financial expense, notes co-author of the study Doug Ford, a research associate with Queen's Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine. Also on the research team is Jim Gauthier, Infection Control Professional at Providence Care in Kingston.
PLEASE NOTE: A PDF copy of the study is available upon request.
Contacts:
Nancy Dorrance, Queen's News & Media Services, 613.533.2869
Jeff Drake, Queen's News & Media Services, 613.533.2877
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American Journal of Infection Control