Revue médicale suisse
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Pneumonia is an importance cause of mortality and morbidity in adults. Two types of pneumonia are defined: community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia with their corresponding etiology such as pneumococci or Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas or enterobacteriaceae, respectively. ⋯ Culture in the case of nosocomial pneumonia is especially important to obtain the antibiotic susceptibility of the infectious agent and to adjust therapy. Moreover for immunocompromised patients, the differential diagnosis is much wider looking for viruses, filamentous fungi and Pneumocystis can be very informative, using new molecular assays.
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Age-related physiological changes and comorbidities affect older patients' tolerance to surgery. Pre-operative assessment in these patients requires, beside the usual physical evaluation, the systematic screening of common geriatric syndromes. Cognitive, gait and balance, nutritional, and functional impairments, all flag patients at higher risk for per- and postoperative complications. Preoperative assessment is an opportunity to detect these syndromes and propose preventative interventions (physical therapy, nutritional and cognitive support measures) likely to reduce the incidence of postoperative morbidity.
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Hip fracture management by the geriatrician demands a close cooperation with orthopedic surgeons and a interdisciplinary approach with the implementation of protocole-driven care to standardize the care of most patients. From admission to discharge this orthogeriatric management is based on the comprehensive geriatric assessment to reduce the delays in surgery, the occurence of delirium or the most postoperative complications. This collaborative model of care seems to have the potential to improve function, admissions to nursing homes and mortality outcomes compared with usual care of geriatric patient with hip fracture.