APIC president's message

Abstract

Welcome to the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC). This edition explores infection prevention and control issues occurring in our skilled nursing facilities and long-term care settings. I am sure our valued APIC members who have long-term care responsibilities will find information that resonates with them. Infection prevention across the continuum of care is critical in this typically elderly, high-risk population. The unique aspects of long-term care include community activities important to the health and welfare of these residents, making resistant organism control strategies more difficult.In this issue of AJIC, Mary Rogers et al present data on the incidence of antibiotic-resistant infection in long-term residents of skilled nursing facilities. This important study includes data from several states across the country. Included are conclusions about at-risk populations and procedures in these settings. Joan Hebden, John Furuno, Anthony Harris, and their colleagues at the University of Maryland and VA Maryland Health Care System describe a single-day point-prevalence study for MRSA and Acinetobacter baumannii in a large (180 bed) skilled nursing facility. This article speaks to the importance of collaborating and coordination between this setting and the acute care setting. Angelo Pan takes us to an Italian long-term care setting to look at adherence to hand hygiene practices. And, no surprise, they face many of the same challenges that acute care hospital face in compliance. Finally, Curtis Donskey et al present findings indicating that educational interventions requiring minimal resources can result in sustained reductions in inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.In addition to the research findings mentioned above, this issue includes the new SHEA/APIC Guideline: Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-Term Care Facility. This guideline, last updated in 1997, is the product of collaboration between the 2 societies intended to advance the practice of infection control in long-term facilites.APIC members are fortunate to have many resources available to them through their APIC membership, including a Long-Term Care Focus Group that share ideas and concerns. We hope that this issue of AJIC adds to those resources. Our Web site, www.apic.org, contains links to many helpful resources. We hope that this issue of AJIC adds to those resources. Welcome to the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC). This edition explores infection prevention and control issues occurring in our skilled nursing facilities and long-term care settings. I am sure our valued APIC members who have long-term care responsibilities will find information that resonates with them. Infection prevention across the continuum of care is critical in this typically elderly, high-risk population. The unique aspects of long-term care include community activities important to the health and welfare of these residents, making resistant organism control strategies more difficult. In this issue of AJIC, Mary Rogers et al present data on the incidence of antibiotic-resistant infection in long-term residents of skilled nursing facilities. This important study includes data from several states across the country. Included are conclusions about at-risk populations and procedures in these settings. Joan Hebden, John Furuno, Anthony Harris, and their colleagues at the University of Maryland and VA Maryland Health Care System describe a single-day point-prevalence study for MRSA and Acinetobacter baumannii in a large (180 bed) skilled nursing facility. This article speaks to the importance of collaborating and coordination between this setting and the acute care setting. Angelo Pan takes us to an Italian long-term care setting to look at adherence to hand hygiene practices. And, no surprise, they face many of the same challenges that acute care hospital face in compliance. Finally, Curtis Donskey et al present findings indicating that educational interventions requiring minimal resources can result in sustained reductions in inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria. In addition to the research findings mentioned above, this issue includes the new SHEA/APIC Guideline: Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-Term Care Facility. This guideline, last updated in 1997, is the product of collaboration between the 2 societies intended to advance the practice of infection control in long-term facilites. APIC members are fortunate to have many resources available to them through their APIC membership, including a Long-Term Care Focus Group that share ideas and concerns. We hope that this issue of AJIC adds to those resources. Our Web site, www.apic.org, contains links to many helpful resources. We hope that this issue of AJIC adds to those resources.