Antimicrobial Resistance and the Case for Prevention Over Treatment in Elderly Care

Want to protect elderly residents from infections that antibiotics can no longer fix?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a major threat to care homes at present. It continues to rise year on year.

In England, there are now nearly 400 new cases of antibiotic resistant infections reported per week.

Here’s the problem:

When antibiotics fail there is no “plan B”. That’s why the most forward-thinking care homes are moving away from infection treatment to infection prevention.

Prevention is better than cure. When it comes to AMR, prevention may be the only cure.

Ready? Here goes…

What’s inside this guide:

• What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?
• Why Older Residents Are Most At Risk
• The Case For Prevention Over Treatment
• Why Wipeable Vinyl Care Chairs Matter
• 4x Simple Prevention Steps For Care Homes

What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance is when germs evolve and no longer react to medications designed to destroy them.

Think of it like this…

Whenever you use an antibiotic, you kill off the weakest bugs. The strongest survive, reproduce and give their “armour” to their offspring. Eventually, you’re left with superbugs.

And you know what’s really bad? They can travel from your hand to surfaces and back again!

Why Older Residents Are Most At Risk.

Elderly people are on the front line of the AMR problem.

Care homes create another level of risk. People share lounge rooms, dining rooms and bathrooms. Workers go from room to room throughout the day. Germs have many opportunities to spread.

That’s why furniture that residents use day in and day out matters so much. Chairs get handled all day by hands, clothes and occasionally bodily fluids. Fabric seats absorb liquid and retain germs, but wipeable vinyl antimicrobial care chairs can be cleaned & disinfected in seconds. Selecting antimicrobial care home chairs with sealed, fluid resistant surfaces gives your cleaning crew the best chance of fighting off the germs that travel from resident to resident.

The numbers reflect just how much is on the line. Data from the UKHSA revealed that almost half (46.2%) of resistant bloodstream infections detected in England occurred in people aged over 74. Deaths among people with a resistant infection rose to an estimated 2,379 in 2024.

Why are older people hit so hard? It comes down to three things:

• Weaker immune systems
• More long-term health conditions
• More contact with hospitals, carers and medical treatment

The Case For Prevention Over Treatment

Here’s the thing about treating resistant infections…

It’s slow, expensive and often doesn’t work.

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics when a resident comes down with an infection. But what if it’s resistant? The first treatment doesn’t work. Then the second. And resident grows sicker.

When you’re a healthy 25-year-old, waiting an extra five minutes for an ambulance might not seem like a big deal. But for an elderly person with heart problems, that five minutes can cost precious time.

For a feeble 85-year-old, that five minutes can mean the difference between a speedy recovery and a lengthy hospital stay (or worse).

It’s not only bad news for the resident. Every resistant infection increases stress on care staff, concerned family members and local hospitals that are already overloaded.

Prevention flips the script.

If you don’t get infected, there’s nothing to treat. No antibiotics are necessary. And bacteria have no additional opportunities to develop resistance.

Even the UKHSA has stated that preventing infections from occurring is central to combating AMR.

It makes sense, right? Every infection you prevent is:

• One less course of antibiotics
• One less chance for a superbug to form
• One less resident put at risk

Why Wipeable Vinyl Care Chairs Matter

When most people think about infection control, they picture handwashing and face masks.

Furniture rarely makes the list. But it should.

In a recent nursing home study, researchers found that MRSA and VRE are able to persist in resident rooms despite cleaning efforts and can even survive resident turnover.

That is significant. If bacteria can live on surfaces they can live on seating as well.

Here’s what makes wipeable vinyl care chairs such a smart choice…

Sealed Surfaces Stop Germs Soaking In

Regular fabric upholstery is absorbent. Liquid, perspiration and moisture penetrate deep into cushions where it cannot be cleaned.

Vinyl is unique. Vinyl forms a barrier that causes liquids to bead up on the surface.

They’re Quick To Clean

Care staff are busy. Really busy.

You can disinfect a wipeable chair with a regular old disinfectant wipe in less than one minute. This means you can actually disinfect between residents, not just weekly.

They Last Longer

High quality vinyl won’t crack or fade from harsh cleansers. That means the chair will stay sanitary for years, rather than months.

Safety Tip: Inspect chairs often for rips or cracks. Once the covering is compromised, bacteria can enter the cushion beneath. Patch or replace torn covers immediately.

4x Simple Prevention Steps For Care Homes

Wipeable furniture is only one part of your infection control plan. The most effective plans have multiple layers of defense that work together.

Here are four simple steps every care home can start today.

1. Make Hand Hygiene Non-Negotiable

Hands are the primary mode of germ transmission throughout a care home. Position hand gel dispensers by every entrance, in all lounges and outside all bathrooms.

Then make sure staff, visitors and residents actually use them.

2. Build A Clear Cleaning Schedule

Random cleaning doesn’t work. Create a written schedule for high-touch surfaces like:

• Chair arms and seats
• Door handles and handrails
• Call buttons
• Dining tables

Tick them off every single day.

3. Use Antibiotics Wisely

Not all infections require antibiotic treatment. Collaborate with GPs to ensure antibiotics are only prescribed when necessary.

Take a look at E. coli. It causes 65% of resistant bloodstream infections, yet it also causes urinary tract infections (UTIs). Encouraging residents to stay hydrated can reduce UTI risk… and reduce antibiotic use.

4. Keep Up With Vaccinations

Vaccines stop infections before they start. Fewer infections mean fewer antibiotics.

Ensure residents and staff have received flu, COVID-19, and any other vaccines for which they are eligible.

The Bottom Line

Antimicrobial resistance isn’t coming. It’s here. And seniors are suffering the consequences.

The good news?

Care homes have more control than they realise. If you prioritise prevention over treatment you can:

• Protect residents from hard-to-treat infections
• Reduce the need for antibiotics
• Slow the spread of superbugs

Begin with clean hands, written cleaning protocols, judicious antibiotic use and disinfectant-friendly furniture.

Small drops make an ocean. Even in AMR, every infection you prevent matters.