View source for Infection in long-term care residents

== Background ==

* Often difficult to evaluate

== Clinical Presentation ==

* [[Fever]] with temperature >37.8ºC (or repeatedly >37.2ºC, or >1.1ºC increase from baseline temperature)
* [[Hypothermia]] with two or more temperatures ≤36ºC or two or more temperatures with >1.1ºC decrease from baseline temperature
* [[Hypotension]], with systolic BP ≤90 mmHg, or decrease in SBP by ≥40 mmHg
* Occasionally new-onset [[hyperglycemia]]
* [[Delirium]], using the [[CAM]] criteria
* Symptoms that should not prompt assessment for infection include:
** Behavioural changes other than delirium
** [[Functional decline]]
** [[Falls]]
** [[Anorexia]]

== Further Reading ==

* Reliability of nonlocalizing signs and symptoms as indicators of the presence of infection in nursing-home residents. ''Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol''. 2020;1-10. doi: [https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.1282 10.1017/ice.2020.1282]