Infections in the elderly

Abstract

As people age they experience more illness and this applies in particular to skin infections. Pathogenic states that provide the milieu for infection are more common in the elderly. Infections that occur more common in the elderly include Gram-positive bacterial infections of the skin, intertriginous infections, herpes zoster/shingles and onychomycosis. These will be reviewed in the article. Newer treatments such as valacyclovir, famcyclovir, terbinafine and linezolid exist to treat these infections. Recognizing the varying presentations enhances the health and treatment of disease of elderly patients.