Guide to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections in nursing homes

In cooperation with experts, the Canton of Vaud has developed a best-practice guide for prevention, diagnosis and treatment common infections in nursing homes wich was published in 2018.

In many cases, there is no doctor available

Studies have shown that infections in elderly nursing home residents are fairly common. It isn’t always easy to diagnose infections in a medico-social environment: On the one hand, there often is no doctor on site and nursing staff have to discuss diagnosis and treatment with a specialist by phone. And on the other, the symptoms are often difficult to ascertain and ambiguous. In cases of doubt, this can lead to antibiotics being prescribed even if they may not be indicated.

Step-by-step diagnoses on paper and online

In cooperation with doctors, nursing staff and other experts, the Canton of Vaud has developed a best-practice guide for prevention, diagnosing and treating common infections in nursing homes. It includes step-by-step diagnoses and treatment guidelines. One chapter explains the measures to prevent micro-organism transmission. The guide is available on paper, in a pocket edition as well as in an interactive version on a website and a mobile app. The practice guide has by now become standard in various institutions; the cantons of Fribourg, Valais, Jura and Neuchâtel have also adopted it.

Update 2024

HPCi Vaud and its partners revised the guide in 2024 and updated its content and algorithms to incorporate the latest scientific findings in the field.

The guide is available in French : guide-ems-hpci.ch

Further information and a PDF version of the guide will be found at: EMS - Guide pratique de prévention et de traitement des infections en établissement médico-social | HPCi