JOINT DESTRUCTION AND EMPYEMA IN ADVANCED AGE

Because of degenerative joint diseases and the reduced resistence in o lder patients the correct diagnoses of joint-empyema is difficult. In 29 pat (> 60 y) the mean delay of diagnoses was 5.1 mounths. First loc ation of the infection have been: urinary tract 12, pneumonia 6, skin infection 10, and decubitus 3. Risk factors have been diabetes 4, poly arthritis 3, gout 3 and tuberculosis 3. The species were: s. aureus 12 , s. albus 2, streptococcus 2, diphteroid 2, e. coli 2, pseudomonas 2, proteus 4, enterobacter 3 and salmonella 1.8 patients demonstrated mi xed infections. The high mortality (3 pat.) and the frequent general s epsis (5 pat.) underline the importance of a missed joint-empyema in t he elderly.