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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
11:17

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

Antimicrobial therapy in the elderly

S Rajagopalan1, T T Yoshikawa

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, King-Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. shrajago@cdrewu.edu

The Medical Clinics of North America
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

This review updates antibiotic selection and use for infections in elderly patients, a vulnerable population. It covers empiric antimicrobial therapy principles for common infections in older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Elderly individuals are a vulnerable population susceptible to infections.
  • Infections in the elderly present unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment.
  • Age-related physiological changes impact antimicrobial efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an update on managing infections in the elderly.
  • To review principles of antibiotic selection and use in older adults.
  • To discuss empiric antimicrobial therapy for common infections in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on antimicrobial therapy in the elderly.
  • Synthesis of current guidelines and evidence for antibiotic use.
  • Discussion of specific antibiotic classes and their application in geriatric patients.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic selection requires careful consideration of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes in the elderly.
  • Empiric antimicrobial therapy should be guided by local resistance patterns and patient-specific factors.
  • Specific antibiotic choices and dosing adjustments are crucial for optimizing outcomes and minimizing adverse events.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of infections in the elderly necessitates a tailored approach to antimicrobial therapy.
  • Understanding age-related differences is key to successful treatment and improved patient outcomes.
  • Further research into geriatric infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship is warranted.

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