Drug Aging
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The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), an infectious disease, sharply increases among the elderly and the main risk factor for CAP in this age group is chronic comorbidity. The use of the term CAP in the elderly population should be reserved for pneumonia acquired outside of the nursing home setting, since nursing home-acquired pneumonia differs from CAP in terms of its aetiology and clinical manifestations. The main aetiology for CAP is Streptococcus pneumoniae, but atypical pathogens also play an important role as causative agents. ⋯ In addition to antibiotic therapy, it is critically important to identify and treat the physiological disturbances that accompany CAP as well as decompensation of chronic comorbid conditions. As soon as the patient's condition permits, oral antibiotic therapy should replace intravenous therapy and early discharge from the hospital should be considered. Since influenza and pneumococcus immunisation can reduce morbidity and mortality from CAP, it is important to implement regular immunisation programmes in the primary care setting.