ABSTRACT
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 31 million of the population age 65 and older in 1990, and by the year 2050, there will be about 80 million of this population. For the oldest old population (>85 years), that would be a five-fold increase. Parallel to this drastic rise in the elderly population is the significant increase in health care expenses due to the increased risk of infection, cancer, and other diseases in the aged group. This population is also at greater risk of contracting more severe and longer-lasting infections, particularly respiratory infections. Moreover, they are more prone to develop invasive
Staphylococcus aureus
infections
and waning immunity to tetanus,
thereby increasing their susceptibility to diphtheria.
