IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i10p5333-d556272.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Epidemiology and Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Geriatric Patients: A Narrative Review

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Luisa Cristina

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Anna Maria Spagnolo

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Luana Giribone

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Alice Demartini

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Marina Sartini

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

Abstract

Demographic studies show that life expectancy is increasing in developed countries; increased longevity has also increased the share of the older population with often concomitant chronic conditions. An ageing population and increased comorbidities lead to more complex pharmacological therapies (polypharmacy). The particular picture provided by chronic conditions and polypharmacy can lead to longer hospital stays and a greater need for healthcare. Elderly patients are identified as being in the high-risk group for the development of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to the age-related decline of the immune system, known as immunosenescence. Comorbid conditions can often complicate infections, diminishing our ability to treat them effectively. Respiratory tract infections are the most common healthcare-associated infections, followed by urinary tract infections. HAIs in geriatric patients are responsible for longer hospital stays, extended antibiotic therapy, significant mortality, and higher healthcare costs. This is because the microorganisms involved are multidrug-resistant and, therefore, more difficult to eliminate. Moreover, geriatric patients are frequently transferred from one facility (nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and other specialty clinics) to another or from one hospital ward to another; these transitions cause care fragmentation, which can undermine the effectiveness of treatment and allow pathogens to be transferred from one setting to another and from one person to another. Multifactorial efforts such as early recognition of infections, restricted use of invasive devices, and effective infection control measures (surveillance, isolation practices, hand hygiene, etc.) can contribute to significant reduction of HAIs in geriatric patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Luisa Cristina & Anna Maria Spagnolo & Luana Giribone & Alice Demartini & Marina Sartini, 2021. "Epidemiology and Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Geriatric Patients: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5333-:d:556272
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5333/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5333/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patricia M. Davidson & Sarah L. Szanton, 2020. "Nursing homes and COVID‐19: We can and should do better," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(15-16), pages 2758-2759, August.
    2. Beatrice Casini & Benedetta Tuvo & Maria Luisa Cristina & Anna Maria Spagnolo & Michele Totaro & Angelo Baggiani & Gaetano Pierpaolo Privitera, 2019. "Evaluation of an Ultraviolet C (UVC) Light-Emitting Device for Disinfection of High Touch Surfaces in Hospital Critical Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patryk Tarka & Aneta Nitsch-Osuch, 2020. "No-Touch Automated Disinfection System for Decontamination of Surfaces in Hospitals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Elizabeth C. Christenson & Ryan Cronk & Helen Atkinson & Aayush Bhatt & Emilio Berdiel & Michelle Cawley & Grace Cho & Collin Knox Coleman & Cailee Harrington & Kylie Heilferty & Don Fejfar & Emily J., 2021. "Evidence Map and Systematic Review of Disinfection Efficacy on Environmental Surfaces in Healthcare Facilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Maria Eleonora Bizzoca & Giuseppina Campisi & Lorenzo Lo Muzio, 2020. "Covid-19 Pandemic: What Changes for Dentists and Oral Medicine Experts? A Narrative Review and Novel Approaches to Infection Containment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-30, May.
    4. Liz Ryan & Debra Jackson & Cindy Woods & Leah East & Kim Usher, 2021. "Preregistration nursing students' provision of safe care—Are we leaving too much to chance?," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5-6), pages 10-12, March.
    5. Leonardo Bursztyn & Aakaash Rao & Christopher Roth & David Yanagizawa-Drott, 2023. "Opinions as Facts," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(4), pages 1832-1864.
    6. Maria Teresa Montagna & Osvalda De Giglio & Carla Calia & Chrysovalentinos Pousis & Francesca Apollonio & Carmen Campanale & Giusy Diella & Marco Lopuzzo & Angelo Marzella & Francesco Triggiano & Vinc, 2021. "First Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 on the Surfaces of Tourist-Recreational Facilities in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-6, March.
    7. Sae Ochi & Michio Murakami & Toshihiko Hasegawa & Yoshinori Komagata, 2021. "Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Imperfect Condition: Practical Guidelines for Nursing Homes by Japan Environment and Health Safety Organization (JEHSO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-12, September.
    8. Owain David Williams, 2020. "COVID-19 and Private Health: Market and Governance Failure," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 63(2), pages 181-190, December.
    9. Joji Abraham & Christopher Turville & Kim Dowling & Singarayer Florentine, 2021. "Does Climate Play Any Role in COVID-19 Spreading?—An Australian Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Carla Russo & Desirée Bartolini & Cristina Corbucci & Anna Maria Stabile & Mario Rende & Antimo Gioiello & Gabriele Cruciani & Antonella Mencacci & Francesco Galli & Donatella Pietrella, 2021. "Effect of a UV-C Automatic Last-Generation Mobile Robotic System on Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Matteo Bolcato & Marco Trabucco Aurilio & Giulio Di Mizio & Andrea Piccioni & Alessandro Feola & Alessandro Bonsignore & Camilla Tettamanti & Rosagemma Ciliberti & Daniele Rodriguez & Anna Aprile, 2021. "The Difficult Balance between Ensuring the Right of Nursing Home Residents to Communication and Their Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    12. Sarah Sims & Ruth Harris & Shereen Hussein & Anne Marie Rafferty & Amit Desai & Sinead Palmer & Sally Brearley & Richard Adams & Lindsay Rees & Joanne M. Fitzpatrick, 2022. "Social Distancing and Isolation Strategies to Prevent and Control the Transmission of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in Care Homes for Older People: An International Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-28, March.
    13. Hongli Sam Goh & Vivian Tan & Chen-Na Lee & Hui Zhang & M Kamala Devi, 2021. "Nursing Home’s Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Critical Reflection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-9, December.
    14. Beatrice Casini & Benedetta Tuvo & Michela Scarpaci & Michele Totaro & Federica Badalucco & Silvia Briani & Grazia Luchini & Anna Laura Costa & Angelo Baggiani, 2023. "Implementation of an Environmental Cleaning Protocol in Hospital Critical Areas Using a UV-C Disinfection Robot," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5333-:d:556272. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.