Documentation of acute change in mental status in nursing homes highlights opportunity to augment infection surveillance criteria. (28th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Penna, Austin R.; Sancken, Christina L.; Stone, Nimalie D.; Eure, Taniece R.; Bamberg, Wendy; Barney, Grant; Barter, Devra; Carswell, Stacy; Clogher, Paula; Dumyati, Ghinwa; Felsen, Christina B.; Frank, Linda; Godine, Deborah; Johnston, Helen; Kainer, Marion A.; Li, Linda; Lynfield, Ruth; Mahoehney, J. P.; Nadle, Joelle; Pierce, Rebecca; Ray, Susan M.; Davis, Sarah Shrum; Sievers, Marla; Wilson, Lucy E.; Zhang, Alexia Y.; Magill, Shelley S.; Thompson, Nicola D.
• Is Part Of: Infection control and hospital epidemiology. Volume 41:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 848
• Page End: 850
• Publication Date: 2020-07-28
• Subjects: Nosocomial infections -- Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Hospital buildings -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Hospitals -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.77
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-823X

Abstract

Abstract: Acute change in mental status (ACMS), defined by the Confusion Assessment Method, is used to identify infections in nursing home residents. A medical record review revealed that none of 15, 276 residents had an ACMS documented. Using the revised McGeer criteria with a possible ACMS definition, we identified 296 residents and 21 additional infections. The use of a possible ACMS definition should be considered for retrospective nursing home infection surveillance.