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Resistant Pathogens in Respiratory Tract Infections in Older People
Author(s) -
Bonomo Robert A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1046/j.1532-5415.50.7s.4.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchiectasis , intensive care medicine , respiratory tract infections , pneumonia , bronchitis , respiratory tract , chronic bronchitis , antibiotic therapy , antibiotics , antibiotic resistance , respiratory system , lung , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia are the most common respiratory tract infections observed in older people and are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality associated with infection. Accurate diagnosis of respiratory tract infections in older people is problematic because of the lack of clear symptoms and signs that are usually seen in younger patients. In addition, the increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance to antibiotic therapy highlights the importance of appropriate therapy. The following review examines the issues associated with the accurate diagnosis of respiratory tract infections, optimal therapy for older patients, and the mechanisms of emerging bacterial resistance to antibiotic therapy.