Infection Control in Long-Term Care: An Old Problem and New Priority

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights broken systemic processes within our country’s nursing homes (NHs) with tragic outcomes. Staff are responsible for preventing, identifying, investigating, and controlling infections without the proper training and personnel. Early studies have shown that between 40% and 45% of COVID-19–related deaths have occurred in LTC facilities.1,2 Morbidity and mortality related to COVID-19 has disproportionately affected older adults residing in LTC facilities.1,2 Since the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination protocols in December 2020, a sharp decrease in COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths have been observed in the NH population3; however, ongoing infection control concerns remain.