Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Elderly Patients

Abstract

This article describes the factors contributing reduced efficacy of antimicrobial agents in elderly patients, as well as the factors and mechanisms compromising safety of this drug class. Specific aspects of the administration of different antimicrobial agent classes in the most common infections in elderly patients, such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections and skin and skin structure infections, are considered in detail. Data on drug interactions between antimicrobial agents and other medication classes commonly used for the treatment of underlying medical conditions in the elderly are also presented.

Keywords

• elderly patients
• antimicrobial agents
• efficacy
• safety
• drug interactions