| Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious public health threats today. It has implications on patient’s outcome and health care costs. Surveillance is important in understanding the presence of antimicrobial resistant organisms (AROs). Current surveillance efforts however, are primarily focused in hospital settings. With the significant change in the way health care is currently delivered particularly in long-term care homes (LTCH), it is important to monitor the prevalence of AROs in these facilities. In order to determine the burden of AROs among residents and the current infection prevention and control practices in LTCHs, Public Health Ontario (PHO) conducted three point prevalence surveys from 2012 to 2014. All 620 LTCHs were invited to complete the survey online through FluidSurvey. Findings can be used to provide baseline information for prioritization, collaboration, and creation of innovative changes in practices in order to prevent the spread of ARO in the province.
Michelle E. Policarpio, Freda Lam, Samir N. Patel, Jennifer Robertson, Tim Cronsberry, Cathy Egan, Gary Garber. Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario |