Isolation practices in Nebraska long-term-care facilities: A survey

Nebraska long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) were surveyed regarding isolation practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Most facilities encounter methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), many screen for this organism, and almost all LTCFs keep records on residents with past MDROs. Although the number of private rooms in LTCFs is small, a large majority of facilities do use precautions of some kind in dealing with these residents (eg, single room, cohorting, contact isolation or placing the MDRO resident with a low-risk roommate). A stricter approach to MDRO infection than colonization was noted. Most rooms in surveyed LTCFs have sinks, but shared bathrooms are not uncommon. New staff members are almost universally educated in infection control principles.