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Residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are at great risk for infection. Most residents are older and have multiple comorbidities that complicate recognition of infection; for example, typically defined fever is absent in more than one-half of LTCF residents with serious infection. Furthermore, LTCFs often do not have the on-site equipment or personnel to evaluate suspected infection in the fashion typically performed in acute care hospitals. In recognition of the differences between LTCFs and hospitals with regard to hosts and resources present, the Infectious Diseases Society of America first provided guidelines for evaluation of fever and infection in LTCF residents in 2000. The guideline presented here represents the second edition, updated by data generated over the intervening 8 years. It focuses on the typical elderly person institutionalized with multiple chronic comorbidities and functional disabilities (e.g., a nursing home resident). Specific topic reviews and recommendations are provided with regard to what resources are typically available to evaluate suspected infection, what symptoms and signs suggest infection in a resident of an LTCF, who should initially evaluate the resident with suspected infection, what clinical evaluation should be performed, how LTCF staff can effectively communicate about possible infection with clinicians, and what laboratory tests should be ordered. Finally, a general outline of how a suspected outbreak of a specific infectious disease should be investigated in an LTCF is provided.

The global population is aging. With the high prevalence of dementia and functional decline in older Americans, many aging adults with disabilities reside in nursing homes in their final stage of life. Immunosenescence, multiple comorbid diseases, and grouped quarter living all coalesce in nursing home residents to increase the risk for infectious disease. The unique issues involved with diagnosis, prognosis, and management of infectious diseases in nursing home residents make research based in the nursing home setting both necessary and exciting for the physician investigator. This review discusses the opportunities and challenges involved with research of the evolving public health problem of infections among nursing home residents.

Background. Pneumonia remains an important public health problem among elderly nursing home residents. This clinical trial sought to determine if a multicomponent intervention protocol, including manual tooth/gum brushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse, twice per day, plus upright positioning during feeding, could reduce the incidence of radiographically documented pneumonia among nursing home residents, compared with usual care. Methods. This cluster-randomized clinical trial was conducted in 36 nursing homes in Connecticut. Eligible residents >65 years with at least 1 of 2 modifiable risk factors for pneumonia (ie, impaired oral hygiene, swallowing difficulty) were enrolled. Nursing homes were randomized to the multicomponent intervention protocol or usual care. Participants were followed for up to 2.5 years for development of the primary outcome, a radiographically documented pneumonia, and secondary outcome, a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) without radiographic documentation. Results. A total of 834 participants were enrolled: 434 to intervention and 400 to usual care. The trial was terminated for futility. The number of participants in the intervention vs control arms with first pneumonia was 119 (27.4%) vs 94 (23.5%), respectively, and with first LRTI, 125 (28.8%) vs 100 (25.0%), respectively. In a multivariable Cox regression model, the hazard ratio in the intervention vs control arms, respectively, was 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], .84–1.50; P = .44) for first pneumonia and 1.07 (95% CI, .79–1.46, P = .65) for first LRTI. Conclusions. The multicomponent intervention protocol did not significantly reduce the incidence of first radiographically confirmed pneumonia or LRTI compared with usual care in nursing home residents. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00975780.

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Kernig's sign, Brudzinski's sign, and nuchal rigidity for meningitis, 297 adults with suspected meningitis were prospectively evaluated for the presence of these meningeal signs before lumbar puncture was done. Kernig's sign (sensitivity, 5%; likelihood ratio for a positive test result [LR+], 0.97), Brudzinski's sign (sensitivity, 5%; LR+, 0.97), and nuchal rigidity (sensitivity, 30%; LR+, 0.94) did not accurately discriminate between patients with meningitis (⩾6 white blood cells [WBCs]/mL of cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]) and patients without meningitis. The diagnostic accuracy of these signs was not significantly better in the subsets of patients with moderate meningeal inflammation (⩾100 WBCs/mL of CSF) or microbiological evidence of CSF infection. Only for 4 patients with severe meningeal inflammation (⩾1000 WBCs/mL of CSF) did nuchal rigidity show diagnostic value (sensitivity, 100%; negative predictive value, 100%). In the broad spectrum of adults with suspected meningitis, 3 classic meningeal signs did not have diagnostic value; better bedside diagnostic signs are needed.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that frequently causes hospital acquired colonization and infection. Accurate identification of host and bacterial factors associated with infection could aid treatment decisions for patients with P. aeruginosa cultured from clinical sites. We identified a prospective cohort of 248 hospitalized patients with positive P. aeruginosa cultures. Clinical data were analyzed to determine whether an individual met predefined criteria for infection versus colonization. P. aeruginosa isolates were tested for the expression of multiple phenotypes previously associated with virulence in animal models and humans. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine the degree of association between host and bacterial factors with P. aeruginosa infection of the bloodstream, lung, soft tissue and urinary tract. One host factor (i.e. diabetes mellitus), and one bacterial factor, a Type 3 secretion system positive phenotype, were significantly associated with P. aeruginosa infection in our cohort. Subgroup analysis of patients with P. aeruginosa isolated from the urinary tract revealed that the presence of a urinary tract catheter or stent was an additional factor for P. aeruginosa infection. Among hospitalized patients with culture-documented P. aeruginosa, infection is more likely to be present in those with diabetes mellitus and those harboring a Type 3 secretion positive bacterial strain.

In this prospective study, 235 adults with suspected meningitis underwent computed tomography (CT) of the head before undergoing lumbar puncture. The results were abnormal in 24 percent of patients. The presence of any of 13 clinical and neurologic features at base line was associated with a significant risk of abnormal findings on CT. The scans were normal in 97 percent of the patients who had none of these characteristics at base line. Thirteen clinical and neurologic features at base line were associated with abnormal findings on CT. In this cohort, 41 percent of the CT scans could have been avoided. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency; early diagnosis and therapy reduce morbidity and mortality. 1 – 3 The diagnosis of meningitis requires an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, but in the case of adult patients, clinicians routinely order computed tomography (CT) of the head before performing lumbar puncture in order to identify occult intracranial abnormalities and thus avoid the risk of brain herniation resulting from the removal of cerebrospinal fluid. 4 – 8 We investigated whether the absence of certain clinical features at base line could be used to identify adults with suspected meningitis who were unlikely to have abnormal findings on CT of . . .

The relationship between cause and timing of death in 294 adults who had been hospitalized with community-acquired bacterial meningitis was investigated. For 74 patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis who died during hospitalization, the underlying and immediate causes of death were identified according to the criteria of the World Health Organization and National Center for Health Statistics. Patients were classified into 3 groups: category I, in which meningitis was the underlying and immediate cause of death (59% of patients; median duration of survival, 5 days); category II, in which meningitis was the underlying but not immediate cause of death (18%; median duration of survival, 10 days); and category III, in which meningitis was neither the underlying nor immediate cause of death (23%; median duration of survival, 32 days). In a substantial proportion of adults hospitalized with community-acquired bacterial meningitis, meningitis was neither the immediate nor the underlying cause of death. A 14-day survival end point discriminated between deaths attributable to meningitis and those with another cause.

Physicians often make clinical predictions about individual patients. For many infectious diseases, published prognostic scoring systems (PSSs) can help predict relevant outcomes. Validated PSSs exist for the general adult population for diseases such as pneumonia, endocarditis, meningitis, and bloodstream infection. Although these PSSs have been rigorously derived and validated, they have limited value in the care of older adults, because most studies have involved a heterogeneous adult population with mortality as the primary end point. In the United States, the number of patients who are ⩾65 years old is growing, and their health care costs are increasing. Assessment of clinical outcomes other than merely survival (i.e., physical functional ability, cognitive ability, need for nursing home care, and overall quality of life) is required for this population. Some pioneering work has been done to develop PSSs that specifically address the health care needs of older adults. This review will describe existing PSSs and explore areas of further investigation.

Few diseases have been affected more by the advent of antimicrobial therapy than bacterial meningitis. From its recognition in 1805 to the early 20th century, bacterial meningitis was fatal. Although the introduction of antibiotics made it curable, 1 – 4 morbidity and mortality from the disease remain unacceptably high. In a recent report, 61 percent of infants who survived gram-negative bacillary meningitis had developmental disabilities and neurologic sequelae. 5 Similarly, in a recent review of 493 episodes of bacterial meningitis in adults, the overall case fatality rate was 25 percent. 6 In this article we highlight epidemiologic trends, review principles of antibiotic pharmacokinetics, and . . .

Seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza have widespread implications for the global economy and global health. This has been highlighted recently as the epidemiologic characteristics for hospitalization and mortality for pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 are now emerging. While treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors are effective for seasonal and pandemic influenza, prevention of morbidity and mortality through effective vaccines requires a rigorous process of research and development. Vulnerable populations such as older adults (i.e., > age 65 years) suffer the greatest impact from seasonal influenza yet do not have a consistent seroprotective response to seasonal influenza vaccines due to a combination of factors. This short narrative review will highlight the emerging epidemiologic characteristics of pandemic H1N1 2009 and focus on immunosenescence, innate immune system responses to influenza virus infection and vaccination, and influenza vaccine responsiveness as it relates to seasonal and H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccines.