Bacterial Pneumonia Among Elders In Long-Term Care Facilities

Course overview

Pneumonia is the second most common cause of infection and the leading cause of death among elders in the long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The major bacterial cause of pneumonia is the streptococcus pneumoniae, which accounts for 5,000,000 cases of pneumonia every year in the United States. The mortality rate in long-term care facilities residents with all other infections ranges from 0.04 to 0.71 per 1000 resident-days. Furthermore, pneumonia infections are the leading reason for hospital transfer among LTCFs residents with the hospital costs ranges from $673 million to $2 billion each year. Elderly residents at the LTCFs have a higher risk of acquiring long-term care facility-associated bacterial pneumonia for several reasons including decreased clearance of bacteria from the airways and altered throat flora, poor functional status, presence of feeding tubes, difficulty in swallowing, aspiration, and inadequate oral hygiene.