antibiotic side effects in the elderly

Introduction

Elderly patients are prone to antibiotic side-effects.

Etiology

• penicillin-induced
  • hypernatremia
  • hyperkalemia
  • hyperchloremic alkalosis
• aminoglycosides & vancomycin
  • ototoxicity
  • nephrotoxicity
    • therapeutic drug monitoring
    • creatinine clearance
• dose-related neurotoxicity associated with:
  • penicillin
  • ceftazidime
  • imipenem
  • quinolones
• bleeding secondary to coagulopathy associated with:
  • anti-Pseudomonal penicillins
  • some cephalosporins
    • cefmetazole
    • cefotetan
    • cefoperazone
    • cefamandole
  • prophylactic vitamin K may be useful in malnourished patients receiving parenteral nutrition

More general terms

• drug adverse effect(s)
• geriatric disorder; disease of old age; geriatric syndrome

Additional terms

• antibiotic resistance in nursing homes
• infectious outbreaks in nursing homes