Three-year prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in Dutch nursing homes

From November 2007 for a period of three years (2007-2009), we conducted an annual one-day prevalence study of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among nursing home residents in the Nijmegen region of The Netherlands. In the absence of national HAI definitions applicable to the nursing home setting, we used modified definitions based on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for bloodstream infection, lower respiratory tract infection, bacterial conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis. For the surveillance of urinary tract infection (UTI), criteria established by the Dutch Association of Elderly Care Physicians were used. Resident characteristics were recorded and data collection was performed by the attending elderly care physicians. For the three-year period, 1275, 1323, and 1772 nursing home residents were included, resulting in a prevalence of HAIs of 6.7%, 7.6% and 7.6%, in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The demographics with respect to age (mean 81 years) and sex (31% men, 69% women) were almost identical in all three years. UTI was the most prevalent HAI with 3.5%, 4.2%, and 4.1% respectively. Most HAIs occurred among residents of rehabilitation units. The prevalence of HAIs varied by nursing home (range: 0.0-32.4%). We present the results of the first prevalence study of HAIs in Dutch nursing homes. Point prevalence studies of HAIs, as part of a quality improvement cycle, are an important cornerstone of infection control programmes in nursing homes, allowing us to further increase patient safety efforts in this setting.