Institutional risk factors for outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in homes for the elderly: a retrospective cohort analysis.

In 2006, 12.4% of the Hong Kong population were aged over 65 years. In 2005, about 60 000 elderly people were residents in homes for the elderly, accounting for 7% of this population. Infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the institutionalised elderly.1 Vulnerability of the elderly to infection and the living environment of homes for the elderly predispose to infection outbreaks. Infection control programmes in health care facilities and their relation to infections have been reported.2 This study aimed to investigate the association between institutional risk factors and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in homes for the elderly in Hong Kong.