Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Bacteremia in the elderly

J P Richardson1

  • 1Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
|February 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteremia in the elderly, particularly in nursing homes, has high mortality. Early, appropriate antibiotic treatment targeting common pathogens like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus can reduce deaths.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Host Genotype Links to Salivary and Gut Microbiota by Periodontal Status.

Journal of dental research·2022
Same author

The Experimental Application of Microsurgical Techniques to Internal Mammary to Coronary Artery Anastomosis.

The Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery·2018
Same author

Epithelial discrimination of commensal and pathogenic Candida albicans.

Oral diseases·2016
Same author

Mutational changes of conserved residues in the Q-loop region of transcription factor Rho greatly reduce secondary site RNA-binding.

Journal of molecular biology·2001
Same author

Phenotypic characterization of a comprehensive set of bicyclomycin-resistant mutants.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2001
Same author

Persistent organochlorine concentrations in sediment and fish from Atlantic coastal and brackish waters off Savannah, Georgia, USA.

Marine pollution bulletin·2001
Same journal

Telehealth Utilization for Prostate Cancer Management in the Veteran Affairs Healthcare System: A Study from 2016 to 2023.

Journal of general internal medicine·2026
Same journal

One Pill to Rule Them All: The Role of Single-Pill Combinations in Optimizing Blood Pressure Control.

Journal of general internal medicine·2026
Same journal

The AI Education Void in Internal Medicine Clerkships: From Awareness to Action.

Journal of general internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Heatstroke Over the Past Decade: Risk Factors, Long-Term Health Consequences, and Preventive Measures.

Journal of general internal medicine·2026
Same journal

The Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills: An Online Randomised Controlled Trial.

Journal of general internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Patient-Clinician Communication About Traumatic Experiences: A Qualitative Dyadic Framework Analysis.

Journal of general internal medicine·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Bacteremia presents a significant mortality risk in elderly populations, especially those in nursing homes or hospitalized.
  • Elderly patients may exhibit nonspecific or subtle symptoms, including incontinence, falls, or being afebrile, complicating early diagnosis.
  • Mortality rates are higher when bacteremia originates outside the genitourinary tract or involves gram-positive organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the challenges in diagnosing bacteremia in the elderly due to nonspecific presentations.
  • To emphasize the importance of early and appropriate antibiotic treatment in reducing mortality.
  • To guide clinicians on appropriate empirical antibiotic coverage for elderly patients with suspected bacteremia.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of clinical presentations and outcomes of bacteremia in elderly patients.
  • Analysis of common causative pathogens, including gram-negative (e.g., E. coli, Proteus, Klebsiella) and gram-positive organisms (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus, Pneumococcus).
  • Evaluation of the impact of early antibiotic therapy on mortality rates, particularly in specific subgroups (e.g., >85 years, gram-positive bacteremia).

Main Results:

  • Gram-negative bacteremias are generally more common than gram-positive ones in the elderly.
  • E. coli is the most frequent gram-negative isolate, while Staphylococcus aureus is the most common gram-positive isolate.
  • Early appropriate antibiotic treatment, including coverage for S. aureus, gram-negative bacilli, and anaerobes (if pressure ulcers suspected), is associated with reduced mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteremia in the elderly often presents subtly, necessitating high clinical awareness.
  • Prompt and targeted antibiotic therapy is crucial for improving outcomes and reducing mortality in elderly patients with bacteremia.
  • Clinicians must be prepared to manage bacteremia with broad-spectrum coverage tailored to likely pathogens and potential sources.