title: Infection in the elderly.
abstract: Many functional, demographic, and immunologic changes associated with aging are responsible for increasing the incidence and severity of infectious diseases in the elderly. Management is complicated by age-related organ system changes. Because many of the elderly are on multiple medications for underlying illnesses, antimicrobial therapy needs to be chosen keeping drug interactions and adverse events in mind. Common infections seen in the elderly are infections of skin and soft tissue, urinary tract, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Organized and well-funded programs to address infectious disease issues in the elderly are the only way to improve care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Post Box 19636, Springfield, IL 62794-9636, USA.
authors.forename: Tin Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Htwe
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.forename: Sherry B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rosher
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khardori
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy