Effectively treating common infections in residents of long-term care facilities

Clinicians involved in caring for institutionalized elderly frequently must treat common infections endemic to the setting. Numerous factors specific to these patients make accurate diagnosis and management more difficult tha n in healthy ambulatory adults. Three infections are commonly encountered i n residents of long-term care facilities: bacterial pneumonia, urinary trac t infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. More antimicrobial agent s are available now than ever before; therefore, judicious administration o f drugs and familiarity with current treatment recommendations are imperati ve.