title: Bloodstream infections in older patients.
abstract: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are both common and fatal in older patients. We describe data from studies evaluating older patients hospitalized with BSIs. Most older patients with BSIs present "typically" with either fever or leukocytosis. The most common source of BSI in older patients is the urinary tract, and accordingly, Gram-negative organisms predominate. A significant part of these BSIs may thus be preventable by removal of unnecessary urinary catheters. Increased long term mortality is reported following BSIs in older patients, however, data on other long-term outcomes, including functional capacity, cognitive decline and others are lacking. Management of BSIs may include less invasive procedures due to the fragility of older patients. This approach may delay the diagnosis and treatment in some cases. Older patients are probably under-represented in clinical trials assessing treatment of bacteremia. Physicians treating older patients should consider the relevance of these studies' outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Infectious Diseases, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital , Petah-Tikva , Israel.|b Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Ramat-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yahav
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Infectious Diseases, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital , Petah-Tikva , Israel.|b Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Ramat-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eliakim-Raz
authors.affiliation: b Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Ramat-Aviv , Israel.|c Department of Medicine E , Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital , Petah-Tikva , Israel.
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leibovici
authors.affiliation: b Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Ramat-Aviv , Israel.|d Unit of Infectious Diseases, Rambam Hospital , Haifa , Israel.
authors.forename: Mical
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013995:Time; D062885:Urinary Catheters / Q000382:microbiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: bacteremia; bloodstream infections; elderly; older