title: Sepsis and Other Infectious Disease Emergencies in the Elderly.
abstract: Waning immunity and declining anatomic and physiologic defenses render the elder vulnerable to a wide range of infectious diseases. Clinical presentations are often atypical and muted, favoring global changes in mental status and function over febrile responses or localizing symptoms. This review encompasses early recognition, evaluation, and appropriate management of these common infections specifically in the context of elders presenting to the emergency department. With enhanced understanding and appreciation of the unique aspects of infections in the elderly, emergency physicians can play an integral part in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with these often debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8072, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: syliang@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Elderly; Infections; Meningitis; Pneumonia; Sepsis; Skin and soft tissue infection; Urinary tract infection