Perhaps your elderly mother is living in a nursing home. She has some mobility issues but is healthy overall.
Recently, there was an infection outbreak and your mother’s well-being is a concern to you. Here are three of the most common infections in nursing homes today.
1. Most reported
Reporting shows that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common among nursing home patients. Those with catheters are most at risk, although elderly residents without catheters can also get UTIs. Unfortunately, 50% of all blood infections appear in nursing homes. This means that urinary tract bacteria enter the bloodstream, an issue that can be fatal.
2. Most deadly
Pneumonia puts more than 60% of all seniors in the hospital, and 33 out of every 1,000 nursing home residents struggle with this infection. In fact, it is the primary cause of hospitalization and death for residents. Symptoms of pneumonia are not always apparent in elderly people, which can allow the infection to advance to a dangerous level.
3. Most related to the environment
Elderly patients are most at risk for skin infections because of age-related epidermis changes. The most common of these are the infection of a bed sore and the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Since more than half of all nursing home residents are carriers of MRSA, staff must be diligent about minimizing environmental contamination.
Most preventable
The recent outbreak in your mother’s nursing facility was influenza, which is also one of the most preventable infections. Your mother has had her annual flu shot as have the nursing home staff members. So, as long as she keeps her distance from infected residents, your mom should be fine. However, if you ever feel that abuse or neglect has caused your mother to contract any kind of infection, seek legal guidance promptly.
