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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high mortality rates in nursing homes (NHs) in Europe. For adequate risk management and good prognostications, it is essential to identify mortality risk factors.Objective: This study aimed to determine whether previously identified risk factors for 30-day mortality in Dutch NH residents with COVID-19 are unique to COVID-19.Methods: In this cohort study, we included 1,294 NH residents with COVID-19 (cases) and 17,999 NH residents without COVID-19 (controls, from the pre-COVID-19 period). We used descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazard models to compare mortality rates in residents with and without COVID-19, categorized by risk factors.Results: Cases had a more than 18 times higher hazard of death within 30 days compared to controls (HR 18, 95%CI: 16-20). For residents with COVID-19, being male, having dementia, and having Parkinson's disease (PD) were all associated with a higher 30-day mortality (HR 1.8 versus 1.3 versus 1.7). Being male was also associated with a higher mortality (HR 1.7) in the control group, whereas having dementia and PD were not. COVID-19 symptomatology was very similar for residents with and without dementia or PD, except for delirium and malaise which was more frequent in residents with dementia.Conclusion: Dementia and PD were significant additional risk factors for mortality in Dutch NH residents with COVID-19, whereas male gender was not unique to residents with COVID-19. The frailty of PD and dementia in NH residents with COVID-19 are relevant to consider in prognostication, communication, and care planning with residents and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are among the most widely prescribed drugs in long-term care facilities, which highlights the importance of antibiotic stewardship (ABS) in this setting. In this article, we describe the experiences with ABS in nursing homes (NHs) from the perspective of 4 European countries: the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. In these countries, a large variety of initiatives to develop and implement ABS in NHs have been introduced in recent years. Among these initiatives are national antibiotic prescribing surveillance systems, NH-specific prescribing guidelines, and national networks of healthcare institutions that exchange information and develop ABS policy. Several initiatives evolved as a result of political prioritization of antibiotic resistance, translated into national action plans. Experiences of the 4 countries with the presented initiatives may inspire other countries that aim to develop or improve ABS in the long-term care setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]