Tweet
Infect Prev Pract
. 2025 Jan 25;7(1):100444.
doi: 10.1016/j.infpip.2025.100444. eCollection 2025 Mar. Optimizing epidemic prevention in nursing homes using clinical surveillance of respiratory infections
Philippe Gaspard 1 2 , Martin Martinot 3
Affiliations
Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) pose a significant risk in nursing homes (NHs), which makes surveillance crucial for timely intervention.
Aim: To monitor the impacts of seasonal RTIs in NHs, which include frequency, the use of rapid diagnostic tests and antibiotics, mortality, and cluster dynamics, with the use of clinical surveillance.
Methods: During the winter periods from 2015 to 2019 (22 weeks), data on general signs (GSs), and respiratory signs (RSs) were collected to define three respiratory clinical sign patterns (CSPs): GS+/RS+, GS-/RS+, and GS+/RS-. Clusters (≥2 cases) were identified and classified into three intensity levels, namely, L1, L2, and L3 (2, 3-5, and ≥6 GS+/RS+/4 days, respectively). CSP frequencies and the 28-day all-cause mortality were calculated.
Findings: In 13 NHs (N = 3,628 resident inclusions, median age: 87.2 years), 1,538 GS+/RS+, 1,482 GS-/RS+, and 233 GS+/RS- cases were observed, with mortality rates of 8.5%, 2.8%, and 6%, respectively. Among the GS+/RS+ cases, 63% received an antimicrobials. GS+/RS+ cluster analysis identified 141 clusters with L1, 100 with L2, and 26 with L3.A total of 209 rapid diagnostic tests for influenza were carried out, with 72.2% conducted in L2 or L3 clusters. Within clusters, the first case must be identified promptly with rapid outbreak development taking place within the first 2-3 days, and potentially less effective containment efforts following delayed detection.
Conclusion: Clinical surveillance is a comprehensive method that can be utilized for the rapid implementation of preventive measures and appropriate use of antibiotics.
Keywords: Airborne virus; Clusters; Disease outbreaks; Geriatrics; Influenza; Nursing home.
. 2025 Jan 25;7(1):100444.
doi: 10.1016/j.infpip.2025.100444. eCollection 2025 Mar. Optimizing epidemic prevention in nursing homes using clinical surveillance of respiratory infections
Philippe Gaspard 1 2 , Martin Martinot 3
Affiliations
- PMID: 40034473
- PMCID: PMC11874540
- DOI: 10.1016/j.infpip.2025.100444
Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) pose a significant risk in nursing homes (NHs), which makes surveillance crucial for timely intervention.
Aim: To monitor the impacts of seasonal RTIs in NHs, which include frequency, the use of rapid diagnostic tests and antibiotics, mortality, and cluster dynamics, with the use of clinical surveillance.
Methods: During the winter periods from 2015 to 2019 (22 weeks), data on general signs (GSs), and respiratory signs (RSs) were collected to define three respiratory clinical sign patterns (CSPs): GS+/RS+, GS-/RS+, and GS+/RS-. Clusters (≥2 cases) were identified and classified into three intensity levels, namely, L1, L2, and L3 (2, 3-5, and ≥6 GS+/RS+/4 days, respectively). CSP frequencies and the 28-day all-cause mortality were calculated.
Findings: In 13 NHs (N = 3,628 resident inclusions, median age: 87.2 years), 1,538 GS+/RS+, 1,482 GS-/RS+, and 233 GS+/RS- cases were observed, with mortality rates of 8.5%, 2.8%, and 6%, respectively. Among the GS+/RS+ cases, 63% received an antimicrobials. GS+/RS+ cluster analysis identified 141 clusters with L1, 100 with L2, and 26 with L3.A total of 209 rapid diagnostic tests for influenza were carried out, with 72.2% conducted in L2 or L3 clusters. Within clusters, the first case must be identified promptly with rapid outbreak development taking place within the first 2-3 days, and potentially less effective containment efforts following delayed detection.
Conclusion: Clinical surveillance is a comprehensive method that can be utilized for the rapid implementation of preventive measures and appropriate use of antibiotics.
Keywords: Airborne virus; Clusters; Disease outbreaks; Geriatrics; Influenza; Nursing home.