Best Practices to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infection Transmission Between Long Term Care and Acute Care Settings

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), infections acquired while receiving medical care for other conditions, are a huge public health burden. Older adults in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are at risk for HAIs due to high incidence of co-morbidity, invasive medical devices, and possible cognitive deficits that affect basic sanitary practices. Research indicates that incidence of HAIs in hospitals and LTCFs equate to roughly 5 percent of patients,  which may be compounded by the frequent transition of LTCFs residents to and from the hospital setting.

As part of the longitudinal evaluation of HHS’ National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare Associated Infections, we assess current patient safety practices (PSP) to track and prevent the transmission of HAIs between LTCFs and acute care hospitals.  Data collection efforts include an environmental scan of Federally-funded programs for HAI prevention in long-term care and semi-structured interviews with Federal stakeholders involved in HAI prevention in LTCFs. From these data sources, we identify best practices for targeting the transmission of pathogens between hospitals and LTCFs. Identification and dissemination of best practices for the prevention of HAIs between hospitals and LTCFs could have significant impacts on policy at the local, state, and Federal levels, and so we also identify opportunities where the policy infrastructure can be developed or changed to support those practices.