Norman D C
UCLA School of Medicine.
Geriatrics. 1989 Aug;44 Suppl A:23-7.
The elderly are at increased risk of infection and suffer higher morbidity and mortality than younger people. Diagnosis of etiologic agents is frequently difficult. Alterations in pharmacokinetics in the elderly affect antibiotic choice. beta-lactam antibiotics and the fluoroquinolones are appropriate agents for the therapy of a wide range of infections in the elderly. Aminoglycosides should be used with caution in this age group due to the elderly's increased susceptibility to aminoglycoside-induced toxicity.
