• Brit J Hosp Med · Nov 2024

    Review

    Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Frail Elderly.

    • Catherine Wilson and Ronald Andrew Seaton.
    • Department of Infectious Diseases, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
    • Brit J Hosp Med. 2024 Nov 30; 85 (11): 1121-12.

    AbstractAntimicrobial therapy is essential to modern healthcare practice. However, years of injudicious use has contributed to the development of population and individual level harm from antimicrobial resistance. The frail elderly are particularly at risk from infection as well as antimicrobial adverse effects due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy and declining physiological reserve. Diagnosis and management decision making may be challenging in this vulnerable group due to subtle or absent symptoms and signs. Antimicrobial stewardship is the systematic approach to safe and effective use of antimicrobials to optimise outcomes, minimise harm and preserve future therapies. Herein, we consider the significance and importance of antimicrobial stewardship in the frail elderly and suggest ten steps to assist clinicians in the recognition, investigation and management of infection in this group.

      Pubmed     Copy Citation     Plaintext  

      Add institutional full text...

    Notes

     
    Knowledge, pearl, summary or comment to share?
    300 characters remaining
    help        

    hide…