Reviewing the safe use of antibiotics in the elderly

As the elderly segment of our population expands, physicians will be prescribing medications more frequently for this age group. Physiologic changes, drug-drug interactions, and untoward adverse reactions are more common in the elderly. In addition, therapeutic decisions regarding antimicrobial agents for infectious disease in the aged are also complicated by the burgeoning number of compounds available to clinicians. A thorough knowledge of various antibiotic interactions, potential toxicities, and pharmacokinetics is necessary to safely and effectively prescribe these agents for elderly patients.