There are over three million
Americans receiving
care in long-term
care facilities (LTCFs),
including nursing homes and
skilled nursing facilities (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC], 2015b). Impending
demographic shifts in the American
population anticipate an in
the number of older individuals
and a corresponding greater need
for residencies in LTCFs. Reports
from the CDC (2012) estimate that
the point prevalence of symptomatic
urinary tract infections
(UTIs) among residents of LTCFs
who do not use a urinary catheter,
or non-catheter-related UTIs,
range between 25% to 50%. There
is potential for UTIs among residents
in these facilities to increase,
and subsequently, health care
expenditures. Meddings et al.
(2013) determined that treatment
of UTIs, no matter what the cause,
ranged from $749 to $1,007 per
occurrence.
The majority of care provided
in LTCFs is performed by
unlicensed personnel. Edelman,
Kudzma, and Mandle (2014)
emphasize the responsibility that
nurses and other health care
providers have on health promotion,
and recognize the importance
of prevention and early
recognition of infection.