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Infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (Online), vol.7, no.1, pp.47-57, 2025 (Scopus)
Objective: The increasing proportion of the elderly population necessitates the develop- ment of strategies for managing infections encountered by this group. We aimed to examine the distribution of bacterial infections, their clinical presentations, treatments used, and in-hospital mortality rates among elderly patients. Materials and Methods: We examined a cohort aged 65-79 (Group 1) and aged 80 and above (Group 2) with bacterial infections. Demographic characteristics, underlying conditions, clinical/laboratory findings, and mortality rates of the cases were compared. Results: The study included 177 patients, of which 44.6% were female, and the mean age was 76.0 ± 8.8 years. Group 2 included 36.7% of the study population with a higher inci- dence of sepsis and urinary system infections (p=0.038 and p=0.037, respectively). On the other hand, skin and soft tissue infections (42%) emerged as the predominant cause of hos- pital admissions in Group 1 (p<0.001). Fatigue and dysuria were more frequent in Group 2 (p=0.008 and p=0.044, respectively), and erythema was more common in Group 1 (p=0.012). Hypertension (58.2%) was the most frequently observed comorbidity. Neurological diseases/ dementia were more common in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p=0.036). Also, a delayed procal- citonin response to antibiotics was noted in Group 2 (p=0.006). Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors were the most frequently used antibiotics, and cephalosporin antibiotics were preferred to a greater extent in Group 2 (p=0.02). Conclusion: The increased rates of urinary tract infections and sepsis in individuals over 80 underscores the need for vigilant clinical oversight. Effectively managing underlying condi- tions can reduce the incidence of some infections in vulnerable groups.