Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study, which was part of a larger trial, from Sept. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2015. They studied the medical records of 717 residents at three pediatric long-term care facilities in New York.
The study shows respiratory tract infections were the most common. Around 63 percent of residents were diagnosed with RTIs. The overall infection rate was 5.3 infections per 1000 resident-days, and RTI rates were 3.3 infections per 1,000 resident-days.
RTIs were associated with younger age, increased number of chronic comorbid conditions and the use of feeding tubes and tracheostomies.
Researchers also found 59.7 percent of the residents had feeding tubes and 30 percent had tracheostomies. Around 74 percent of the residents suffered from musculoskeletal-or ambulation-related chronic comorbid conditions.
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