Pneumonia, UTI, and decubiti in the nursing home: optimal management.

Infections in the nursing home population will increase in importance with the predicted rapid growth of the number of persons age 85 and older in the US. The nursing home population is frail, debilitated, and at high risk for morbidity and mortality due to infections. Coupled with limitations in diagnostic interventions in this population, empiric antibiotic therapy is an important aspect of this management. Pneumonia, catheter-related urinary tract infection, and infected pressure sores comprise the major infections in nursing home patients. This review focuses on the management of these infections.