Aging and tuberculosis

In the United States, an increasing proportion of all forms of reactivation tuberculosis occurs in patients over the age of 60 years. Atypical presentations and presence of chronic illness obscure the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the elderly. Prompt diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and aggressive procedures for diagnostic microbiology. Short-course (9 months) chemotherapy with isoniazid and rifampin is the treatment of choice for elderly patients with uncomplicated pulmonary tuberculosis. Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is recommended for selected elderly patients.