First national survey in retirement and nursing homes
The first-ever national point prevalence survey (PPS) on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the use of antibiotics in retirement and nursing homes was conducted in September 2024. The survey, also known as project SPOT, was led by a team from the HOCH Health Ostschweiz Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention & Travel Medicine, with support from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
The aims of the project SPOT
The first-ever national PPS of this kind sought to determine the extent and the nature of home residents’ infections and the types and the amounts of antibiotics used at the establishments concerned. The survey also recorded the structures and process indicators in the fields of infection prevention and appropriate antibiotics administration in the homes involved. The Swiss Point Prevalence Survey on Infections and the Use of Antibiotics among Residents of Retirement and Nursing Homes (also known as ‘SPOT’) was conducted by a team from the HOCH Health Ostschweiz Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention & Travel Medicine, with support from the cantons, the CURAVIVA umbrella association and the FOPH.
Part of the NOSO Strategy Action Plan for Retirement and Nursing Homes
The NOSO Strategy, and more specifically the NOSO Strategy Action Plan for Retirement and Nursing Homes, promotes the adoption of actions to combat healthcare-associated infections in retirement and nursing homes. The plan’s Action Package 6 puts a particular emphasis on obtaining reference data by conducting a PPS on HAIs, antibiotics consumption and further indicators at the institutions concerned. These data should provide an evidence-based foundation that can be used both to define targeted actions to prevent such infections and to conduct comparative studies of the institutions involved at the national level. Since this Swiss PPS has also been based on the corresponding protocols of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), its data will also be comparable with those from other European countries.
The first survey’s results
The first-ever such PPS, which was conducted in September 2024, extended to 94 retirement and nursing homes accommodating a total of 7,244 residents with an average age of 87.
On the survey’s reference date, the overall prevalence of healthcare-associated infections amounted to 2.3%. These were primarily urinary tract infections (44%), followed by respiratory infections (15%) and skin or soft tissue infections (15%).
The presence of a urinary catheter poses the greatest risk of therapy-associated infections, followed by urinary incontinence, existing wounds and recent hospital stays.
A total of 2.6% of all the residents surveyed were undergoing systemic antibiotic treatment on the survey’s reference date.
Further information will be found (in German) on the HOCH Health Ostschweiz SPOT website.
Further information
Further topics
NOSO in nursing homes: the basis
Studies provide the basis on which to shape the NOSO Strategy's strategic thrusts in nursing homes.
NOSO in nursing homes
This is being implemented at homes to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Infection Control and Control Measures Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
Switzerland - 3003 Bern