Author/Editor		Videčnik-Zorman, Jerneja; Maraspin-Čarman, Vera
Title		Okužbe pri starostnikih
Translated title		Infections in the elderly
Type		članek
Source		Med Razgl
Vol. and No.		Letnik 49, št. 2
Publication year		2010
Volume		str. 157-68
Language		slo
Abstract		Elderly represent a large and increasing segment of the population worldwide. Susceptibility to infection in this period of life is substantially increased. The reasons for more frequent infections include impairment of immunitv, reduction of physiologic functions, increased prevalence of chronic diseases associated with infections, the use of immunosuppressive drugs, and living in community. Clinical manifestation of an infection may be al`ered: svmptoms and signs may be atypical, masked or even absent. Certain infections occur more often in elderly persons, and morbidity and mortality from infection are also higher that they are in younger adults. The three most commonly encountered types of infections are: urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. However, sepsis, intra-abdominal infections, infective endocarditis, bacterial meningitis, tuberculosis, and herpes zoster have a special predilection for elderlv persons. Residents of long-term care facilities are highly vulnerable to infections. When prescribing antimicrobials for an elderly patient the age-related changes of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs has to be considered.
Summary		Starostniki predstavljajo obsežen in rastoč segment populacije po vsem svetu. V tem življenjskem obdobju je dovzetnost za okužbe znatno povečana. Vzroki za pogostejše okužbe so okrnjena imunost, upad fizioloških funkcij, pogosto pridružene osnovne bolezni, uporaba imunosupresivnih zdravil ter življenje v skupnosti. Klinična slika okužbe je lahko spremenjena: simptomi in znaki so lahko neznačilni, prikriti ali celo odsotni. Nekatere okužbe se pri starostnikih pojavljajo pogosteje, tudi obolevnost in smrtnost sta višji kot pri mlajših odraslih osebah. Tri najpogostejše vrste okužb zajemajo okužbe spodnjih dihal, sečil ter kože in mehkih tkiv. Pogosteje se pri starostnikih pojavljajo sepsa, okužbe v trebušni votlini, infekcijski endokarditis, bakterijski meningitis, pasavec in tuberkuloza. Oskrbovanci domov za kronično nego so glede okužb zelo ranljivi. Pri predpisovanju protimikrobnih zdravil starostnikom je potrebno upoštevati s starostjo pogojene spremembe farmakokinetike in farmakodinamike zdravil.
Descriptors		COMMUNICABLE DISEASES INFECTION NURSING HOMES HOMES FOR THE AGED AGED