Use of Selected Antibiotics in the Elderly Topical Collection on Infectious Diseases in the Elderly

Abstract

Management of medications in the elderly patient is often a major challenge. Advancing age is accompanied by changes in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs, often exacerbated by renal effects of coexisting diseases. Some of these diseases are diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and hypertension, which can predispose elderly patients to the risk of antibiotic-induced toxicity, especially drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, such as aminoglycosides. Elderly patients are often taking multiple drugs (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements) that may adversely interact with antibiotics and contribute to a significant increase in the incidence of deleterious reactions. This review of the use of antibiotics in the elderly will concentrate on certain classes of antibiotics that are commonly used in the elderly or that have serious adverse events that are more commonly seen in this population.