Lapses in nursing home care are significantly linked to the incidence of urinary tract infections, according to recently published findings.
Seven categories of missed care in particular are linked to UTI incidence, the investigators found. Failure to administer medications and lack of adequate patient surveillance have an especially strong correlation. These types of missed care accounted for “40% of the variance in the percent of residents with UTI” in the sample analyzed, the study authors wrote.
They examined Nursing Home Compare information and New Jersey nurse survey data, including responses from 340 direct-care registered nurses in 63 facilities. Almost one-half of these respondents said they missed at least one “necessary care activity” during their previous shift.
The authors were affiliated with the University of Colorado College of Nursing. Full findings are available online and are forthcoming in Geriatric Nursing.
