ABSTRACT
Infectious diseases are a leading cause ofmorbidity and mortality in the frail nursing home population and a leading cause of transfer of residents from a long-term care facility (LTCF) to an acute care facility. Higher morbidity and mortality rates in older patients in general result partly because of diminished physiological reserves and altered host defenses brought on by aging and comorbidities. This problem is magnified in residents of LTCFs because of debility caused by chronic disease. Elderly residents of long-term care institutions are typically taking multiple medications. This practice, coupled with age and morbidity-related changes in pharmacology of drugs, including antibiotics, increases the risk for adverse drug interactions in nursing home residents.
