title: Patient assessment. Infection in the elderly.
abstract: 1. Along with a decrease in immune competence, older adults are found to have reduced sensitivity of several homeostatic mechanisms that will also predispose them to the development of infection. 2. Common infections in the elderly include pneumonia, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. 3. Nursing can play a pivotal role in the prevention of infection in the older adult by providing information on the importance of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, instituting early risk assessment identification, and developing proactive nursing interventions for those individuals at risk.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis