Multidrug-Resistant, Gram-Negative Bacteria in Hospitalized Elderly Patients from Non-Hospital Long-Term Care Facilities / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the risk of multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacteria (MDRGNB) in hospitalized elderly patients from non-hospital long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and the antibiotic prescription pattern. METHODS: All clinical cultures obtained within 48 hours of hospitalization from elderly patients of at least 55 years of age arriving at a 623-bed, public teaching hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea from LTCFs between April 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012 were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: During this period, 365 elderly persons from 13 LTCFs were hospitalized. This study enrolled 135 patients who had cultures performed. In this group, 27.4% harbored MDRGNB at hospitalization. The presence of MDRGNB during prior hospitalization was the only risk factor that predicted harboring it (p = 0.043, odds ratio = 5.00, confidence interval = 1.049-23.834). Combinations of antibiotics or carbapenems were used initially in 35.6% of the patients, and this did not affect the mortality rate in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized elderly patients from non-hospital LTCFs need more attention. Judicious antibiotic selection is needed according to the risk factor of harboring MDRGNB for antibiotics stewardship.