Long-term care facility residents are colonized with multidrug-resistant organisms.

Active surveillance was performed for Clostridium difficile and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae rectal colonization of 301 long-term care facility residents.

Of the residents, 19% had asymptomatic Clostridium difficile or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae rectal colonization (5.7% with both).

Rectal colonization risk factors included the following: tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, and prior Clostridium difficile infection.