Infection prevention and control in Swedish nursing homes for older adults before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND

In early spring 2020, the spread of SARS-CoV-2, began which developed into a global pandemic of the disease COVID-19. Nursing homes (NHs) for older adults in Sweden experienced a significant spread of the virus resulting in many deaths among the residents and cases of illness among the employees.

AIM: To explore how supply and use of products for protection of residents and staff against infection as well as IPC (infection prevention and control) training changed in Swedish NHs for older adults between the years 2019 and 2023.

METHODS

A web-based survey form with questions concerning supply and use of products as well as training of employees in IPC and use of governing and supporting documents concerning IPC in 2019 and 2023 was sent out to 300 NHs in Stockholm County in January 2024. This was the total number of NHs which were in operation both in 2019 and 2023.

RESULTS

Answers were obtained from 130 NHs with a total of 7377 residents. The response rate was 43.3%. Supply of all products was improved in 2023. There was a significant association between improved supply and improved use for all products (p < .01) except for single use gloves. The number of employees who received training on IPC had risen significantly from 2019 to 2023 (p < .01). In 2023, all respondents used guiding documents on IPC.

DISCUSSION: The COVID-19-pandemic resulted in several improvements concerning IPC in NHs for older adults in Sweden. After the pandemic staff got better training, managers used governing and supporting documents to a higher degree and the supply and use of protective products was improved, except for the use of single use gloves. The difficulties in correct use of gloves were found in 2019 and remained in 2023.