A study of the arrangements for infection prevention and control between hospitals and care homes

Infection prevention and control is not simply an issue for hospitals – many infectious diseases can spread within care homes, where large numbers of people, many of whom may be susceptible to infection, share living accommodation. Infection can be a major cause of illness among residents of care homes, which can result in them being admitted to hospital. For people living in care homes in some developed countries, infection is a common cause of hospitalisation.1 People can enter care homes colonised with organisms acquired in hospital that are resistant to antibiotics. These homes can then become ‘reservoirs’ of infection.