Infection in the elderly

Abstract

This chapter stresses the unique aspects of infection in the elderly, who are defined as those older than 65 years of age, and discusses infections that occur in long-term care institutions. It explains how infections in the aged are an important area of concern for medicine. It also points out that the number of individuals who are older than 65 is increasing dramatically and is disproportionate because of lower birth rates. The chapter emphasizes how age alone is seen as a relatively unimportant risk factor for infection-related death or serious morbidity, although mortality associated with many infections is increased in the elderly. It outlines the variety of comorbid conditions that are increasingly common with advancing age and that appear to be closely associated with greater morbidity and mortality from infection.