Pneumonia in the elderly

Respiratory tract infections are a major cause of disease and death in the elderly and have been recognized as being so for many years. Pneumonia may occur in the aged living in the community, in long-term care facilities, and in the hospital. There are several differences that have been noted in the clinical presentation, severity, management, complications and outcome of pneumonia in the elderly when compared with younger patients. It, however, may not be simple chronological age itself that impacts negatively on the outcome of this infection but rather the underlying comorbid illness that is frequently present. Early, appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy impacts positively on the outcome. Several relatively straightforward measures are available that may help prevent pneumonia in the elderly, including attention to nutrition, pneumococcal and influenza vaccination, and the carrying out of general infection control practices.