Faculty Collaboration Database

Documentation and evaluation of fevers in hospital-based and community-based nursing homes. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1988 Oct;9(10):447-50

Date

10/01/1988

Pubmed ID

3225467

DOI

10.1086/645741

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0024099738 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   16 Citations

Abstract

We reviewed clinical evaluation practices and documentation of fever (greater than or equal to 100.2 degrees F) in all febrile patients over a two-month period in a hospital-based nursing home (HBNH) compared with a community-based nursing home (CBNH). Results showed 38 febrile (mean 101.9 degrees F) HBNH patients and 26 febrile (mean 101.5 degrees F) CBNH patients. Median time from fever onset to physician contact was 4 hours in HBNH and 12.5 hours in CBNH episodes (P less than 0.01). Laboratory studies were initially performed in 68% of HBNH and 31% of CBNH episodes (P less than 0.005), and diagnosis of fever source was documented in 76% of HBNH and 16% of CBNH episodes (P less than 0.005). Overall assessment stratification showed 81% febrile HBNH patients had both evaluation and therapy performed compared with 38% in CBNH (P less than 0.0001); 39% of febrile CBNH patients had no evaluation or therapy performed. Results indicate lack of documentation, and fever evaluation in CBNHs may preclude complete detection of nursing home-acquired infections and thereby hamper preventive responses to potential infection problems.

Author List

Franson TR, Schicker JM, LeClair SM, Hoffmann RG, Duthie EH Jr

Author

Edmund H. Duthie MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross Infection
Female
Fever
Hospital Administration
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing Homes
Nursing Records
Prospective Studies