Infection control in long-term care facilities.

Long-term care facilities are sites where there is often a high incidence of infections and antibiotic use. Until recently, many facilities have not had formalized infection-control policies and procedures to help prevent the spread of infections and to most effectively treat those that do occur. Revisions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services State Operations Manual, which guides routine inspection of nursing facilities, now provide detailed information on infection control and set the standards to which facilities will be held accountable.