Effectively treating common infections in residents of long-term care facilities.

ABSTRACT

Clinicians involved in caring for institutionalized elderly frequently must treat common infections endemic to the setting. Numerous factors specific to these patients make accurate diagnosis and management more difficult than in healthy ambulatory adults. Three infections are commonly encountered in residents of long-term care facilities bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. More antimicrobial agents are available now than ever before; therefore, judicious administration of drugs and familiarity with current treatment recommendations are imperative.