[Antibiotic therapy of bacterial pneumonia in the elderly]

After reviewing the epidemiological data of mortality and morbidity of pneumonia in old people, the various mechanisms of respiratory tract infections are described. This approach points out the very important problem of nosocomial pulmonary infections. The clinical diagnosis is not easy in this high risk population whose reactions to infection are usually weak and atypical. For multiple reasons, the bacteriological proof of the infectious disease in old age is very difficult to obtain, and the adapted antibiotherapy is uncertain. The choice of the medication will also have to be based on the modified pharmacokinetics for old people. Empiric considerations are very usefull as well as the discovery of new antibiotics, but above all, it is most important not to forget the possible immunization.