The interplay of infections, function and length of stay (LOS) in newly admitted geriatric psychiatry patients

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of identifying and treating infections on functional outcomes and length of stay (LOS). Our retrospective naturalistic study reviewed all new admissions to a tertiary geriatric psychiatry teaching hospital from 2003 to 2007. Over this four-year period, 390 patients were admitted and discharged with 21% (85) of patients identified as having infections on admission. Those with infections were compared to the group without to determine and compare clinical characteristics. Factors included in analysis were: age, gender, diagnoses, medical comorbidity, neuropsychiatric symptoms, functional outcomes, medications and LOS. Both groups were similar in gender, psychiatric diagnoses and severity of dementia. Those requiring antibiotics for treatment of infections on admission, were older (p = 0.003), had poorer baseline function (p = 0.005) and higher medical comorbidity (p < 0.001). At discharge, the group with infections showed greater functional improvement (p < 0.001), particularly in mobility (p = 0.005) and cognition (p = 0.046), and had a shorter LOS (p = 0.02). We conclude that a significant number of patients in tertiary geriatric services continue to have infections on admission. Early identification and treatment of infections can result in improved function and decreased LOS.