Just under 4% of elderly residents in Irish long-term care facilities had a confirmed healthcare-associated infection, such as MRSA according to a new study. The HSE – Health Protection Surveillance Centre study highlighted the wide variation in the level of medical care among long-stay facilities.

Of the 4,170 residents studied in 69 nursing homes and other long-stay centres, 3.6% had a confirmed healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) when physician diagnosis of infection was included as a criterion in all categories of infection.

The report is available at the following link: Healthcare Associated Infections and Antibiotic use in Long‐Term Care Facilities Nov 2010 ROI