Pneumonia in Nursing Homes: Current View on Problem

Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2007; 9(1):4-19

Type
Journal article

Abstract

Pneumonia is the common bacterial infection among elderly patients in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Pneumonia in that population is often severe and associated with high mortality. The high prevalence of this infection, diagnostic difficulties and unsatisfactory treatment outcomes as well as predicted growth of that patient population warrant the need for in-depth investigation of this problem in order to develop effective prophylactic measures and therapeutic approaches. This review presents currently available data on epidemiology, risk factors, etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical course of pneumonia in this population. Approaches to diagnosis and management of the elderly patients with pneumonia from the nursing homes, as well as current guidelines on the antimicrobial therapy are also considered. Specific and non-specific prophylactic measures for this infection in nursing homes and long-term care facilities are discussed.

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