Use of antimicrobials in aged people and patients with decreased renal function

Abstract

Respiratory infections develop easily in aged people and are often difficult to treat. Renal function is poorer in aged people than in healthy adults, and the half-life of antimicrobials in blood is longer. General weight loss is present in many cases, and care needs to be taken in determining dosage. A high possibility exists for hospital-acquired pneumonia to become serious, particularly in aged people, and appropriate antimicrobials should be selected. Body weight and renal function must be considered when setting dosages, and use of 50-70% of the amount used in healthy adults is common. Side-effects are no different to those in healthy adults, but care is needed due to insufficient reserve capacity in aged people and a tendency for diseases to become serious due to the reluctance of aged patients to complain.