M C White1. 1. Department of Mental Health, Community and Administrative Nursing, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0608.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of home healthcare clients with respect to infection risks and the presence of infections. DESIGN: Descriptive survey of client charts using a point prevalence design. SETTING: A private San Francisco, California, Bay area home care agency. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 175 clients (28%) was taken from the active client list for a single day; demographic data and clinical data from the last visit prior to the selection day were collected from each chart. RESULTS: The clients were predominantly elderly (mean = 68.6) with an average of 3.6 co-morbid conditions; 12% had an invasive device. Over 20% had an infection on the day surveyed. Five percent had an infection that occurred during home care delivery. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of home health clients have infections, and they represent persons with a number of the risks associated with infections. Guidelines for defining and monitoring infections in home care need to be developed. Hospital-based surveillance methods are not altogether appropriate in this setting; redesigning methods such as targeted surveillance, monitoring rehospitalization, or immunization practices are discussed as potential ways to measure quality of care in the home setting.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of home healthcare clients with respect to infection risks and the presence of infections. DESIGN: Descriptive survey of client charts using a point prevalence design. SETTING: A private San Francisco, California, Bay area home care agency. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 175 clients (28%) was taken from the active client list for a single day; demographic data and clinical data from the last visit prior to the selection day were collected from each chart. RESULTS: The clients were predominantly elderly (mean = 68.6) with an average of 3.6 co-morbid conditions; 12% had an invasive device. Over 20% had an infection on the day surveyed. Five percent had an infection that occurred during home care delivery. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of home health clients have infections, and they represent persons with a number of the risks associated with infections. Guidelines for defining and monitoring infections in home care need to be developed. Hospital-based surveillance methods are not altogether appropriate in this setting; redesigning methods such as targeted surveillance, monitoring rehospitalization, or immunization practices are discussed as potential ways to measure quality of care in the home setting.
Authors: Naomi P O'Grady; Mary Alexander; Lillian A Burns; E Patchen Dellinger; Jeffrey Garland; Stephen O Heard; Pamela A Lipsett; Henry Masur; Leonard A Mermel; Michele L Pearson; Issam I Raad; Adrienne G Randolph; Mark E Rupp; Sanjay Saint Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Naomi P O'Grady; Mary Alexander; Lillian A Burns; E Patchen Dellinger; Jeffrey Garland; Stephen O Heard; Pamela A Lipsett; Henry Masur; Leonard A Mermel; Michele L Pearson; Issam I Raad; Adrienne G Randolph; Mark E Rupp; Sanjay Saint Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2011-04-01 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Maria Luisa Cristina; Anna Maria Spagnolo; Luana Giribone; Alice Demartini; Marina Sartini Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-17 Impact factor: 3.390