title: Challenges with Diagnosing and Managing Sepsis in Older Adults.
abstract: Sepsis in older adults has many challenges that affect rate of septic diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring parameters. Numerous age-related changes and comorbidities contribute to increased risk of infections in older adults, but also atypical symptomatology that delays diagnosis. Due to various pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic changes in the older adult, medications are absorbed, metabolized, and eliminated at different rates as compared to younger adults, which increases risk of adverse drug reactions due to use of drug therapy needed for sepsis management. This review provides information to aid in diagnosis and offers recommendations for monitoring and treating sepsis in the older adult population.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy Practice , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Dallas , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Kalin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Clifford
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Sciences , Drake University , Des Moines , IA , USA.
authors.forename: Eliza A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dy-Boarman
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pharmacy Practice , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Krystal K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy Practice , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Dallas , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maxvill
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy Practice , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Dallas , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pass
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy Practice , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Dallas , TX , USA.|d Department of Clinical Sciences , University of Texas Southwestern , Dallas , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019468:Disease Management; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000068884:Immunosenescence / Q000276:immunology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents
keywords: Sepsis; antibiotic therapy; elderly; immunosenescence; inflammation; vasopressor therapy