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Tip of the week: Recognizing bacteria in long-term care facilities

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, November 19, 2009

Illnesses are common in healthcare settings. Long-term care facilities are no different. The following list offers details about bacteria that are often found in facilities:

• Bacillus cereus: Found in soil, dust, and food products, this bacterium can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
• Campylobacter jejuni: This is possibly the most common infective agent for food borne illnesses. It is frequently found in raw poultry. Therefore, it is important for poultry to be thoroughly cooked. Furthermore, avoiding cross-contamination is critical in limiting the spread of this bacterium.
• Listeria monocytogenes: Common in soil, waste, plants, and food (specifically inadequately pasteurized milk), this bacterium causes listeriosis, which can be fatal.
• Vibrios: There are several species of Vibrios, which are small, curved bacteria. The most well known is Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera. Others can cause gastroenteritis and septicemia.
• Streptococcus pneumoniae: Also called pneumonococcus, this is a diplococcus bacterium that causes some forms of pneumonia. It can also cause other infections, such as endocarditis, cellulitis, and meningitis.
• Haemophilus influenzae: There are many forms of Haemophilus influenzae, with most forms being opportunistic, meaning the person can harbor these pathogens without having any disease. Often, disease occurs where there is an opportunity for infection and immunity is reduced. It can cause pneumonia, meningitis, conjunctivitis, and osteomyelitis, among other diseases.

This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.

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