[Prevalence and risk factors of multi-drug resistant organism colonization among long-term care facilities in Gran Canaria (Spain)].

Introduction: Multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) are an important cause of nosocomial infections, with complicated clinical-therapeutic management and elevated morbidity-mortality, and an increase in healthcare costs. In long term care facilities (LTCFs) colonization/infection by MDRO among residents is increasing, and they may act as reservoirs and vehicles for the dissemination and production of outbreaks by resistant strains in acute hospitals. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of carriers of some common MDRO, and identifying factors associated with carrier state.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted on 235 residents in two LTCFs in the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) between October and November of 2012. The presence of MMR was investigated in nasal, pharyngeal and rectal swabs using selective media. Risk factors associated with carrier state were calculated using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: More than one-third (36.2%) of residents were found to be carriers of ≥ 1 distinct MDROs. More than one-quarter (26.6%) were carriers of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae, and 10.2% were MRSA carriers. Factors found to be associated with colonization by any MDRO were: prior colonization or infection by MDRO, hospitalization in the past 3 months, recurrent infections of the urinary tract, and peripheral arterial disease.

Conclusions: The prevalence of MDRO in the LTCFs settings studied is greater than that found in the literature, and in particular ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae. Due to the high prevalence of infection/colonization by MDRO, it is possible that residents of LTCFs could act as important reservoirs of MDRO, and facilitate their spread into the acute care setting.