Risk for transfer to a hospital due to infection or for any reason lower with universal decolonization versus routine care<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Universal decolonization with chlorhexidine and nasal iodophor in nursing homes leads to a significantly lower risk for transfer to a hospital due to infection, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Loren G. Miller, M.D., M.P.H., from the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, and colleagues performed a cluster-randomized trial of universal decolonization versus routine-care bathing in nursing homes, which included an 18-month baseline period and an 18-month intervention period. Decolonization included use of chlorhexidine for all routine bathing and showering and use of nasal povidone-iodine. Data were obtained from 28 nursing homes with 28,956 residents.<\/p>\n The researchers found that during the baseline and intervention periods, 62.2 and 62.6 percent of the transfers to a hospital in the routine-care group were due to infection (risk ratio, 1.00; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.04). In the decolonization group, the corresponding values were 62.9 and 52.2 percent (risk ratio, 0.83; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.79 to 0.88), for a difference of 16.6 percent in the risk ratio compared with routine care. For transfer to a hospital for any reason, the difference in the risk ratio was 14.6 percent for universal decolonization compared with routine care. To prevent one infection-related hospitalization and one hospitalization for any reason, the number needed to treat was 9.7 and 8.9, respectively.<\/em><\/p>\n “Our findings suggest that the prevention of serious infection in nursing homes can be facilitated with a relatively simple intervention with a low number needed to treat,” the authors write.<\/strong><\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the medical device industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n