Resistant pathogens in respiratory tract infections in older people.
Bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia are the most common respiratory tract infections observed in older people and are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality associated with infection. Accurate diagnosis of respiratory tract infections in older people is problematic because of the lack of clear symptoms and signs that are usually seen in younger patients. In addition, the increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance to antibiotic therapy highlights the importance of appropriate therapy. The following review examines the issues associated with the accurate diagnosis of respiratory tract infections, optimal therapy for older patients, and the mechanisms of emerging bacterial resistance to antibiotic therapy.
Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric CARE Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. robert.bonomo@med.va.gov
Robert A
RA
Bonomo
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents