Healthcare-associated infections in long-term care facilities
![Elderly hands. © Istock](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/is_large/public/images/infections-in-long-term-care-facilities_H.jpg?itok=CSxWyOYm)
In Europe, most long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are for the elderly, including general nursing homes, residential homes and mixed facilities. ECDC monitors the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use in LTCFs through repeated point prevalence surveys (PPSs) in EU/EEA Member States, using a standardised protocol.
The risks of acquiring a HAI can be reduced by implementing infection prevention and control (IPC) structures and processes including antimicrobial stewardship.