Sepsis in Older Adults

Theresa A Rowe; June M McKoy

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2017.07.010

Sepsis in Older Adults

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2017 Dec;31(4):731-742. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2017.07.010.

Authors

Theresa A Rowe¹, June M McKoy²

Affiliations

¹ General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 North Lakeshore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: theresa.rowe@northwestern.edu.
² General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 North Lakeshore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

PMID: 29079157
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2017.07.010

Abstract

Sepsis disproportionally affects older adults with more than 60% of sepsis diagnoses attributed to adults aged 65 years and older. Identifying, diagnosing, and treating sepsis in older individuals remain a challenge for clinicians, and few studies focus specifically on older adults with multiple medical comorbidities. Principles guiding management of sepsis for older adults are generally the same as in younger adults; however, unique considerations particularly pertinent to the care older adults include antimicrobial selection and dosing, delirium management, and goals of care discussions. Other factors, such as medical comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and functional status, impact outcomes more than age alone.

Keywords: Infections; Older adults; Outcomes; Sepsis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging
Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
Bacterial Infections / pathology
Humans
Sepsis / diagnosis*
Sepsis / drug therapy
Sepsis / microbiology*
Sepsis / pathology