- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 79 Immunosenescence and infectious diseases
- Chapter 80 Epidemiology of infection in elderly populations in various settings
- Chapter 81 Pneumonia and respiratory tract infections
- Chapter 82 Tuberculosis in old age
- Chapter 83 Bone and periprosthetic joint infections in older adults
- Chapter 84 Infective endocarditis
- Chapter 85 Ageing with HIV
- Chapter 86 Healthcare-associated infections and emergence of antibiotic resistance
- Chapter 87 Healthcare-associated infections and infection control
- Chapter 88 Vaccines against viral infections
- Chapter 89 Integration of vaccination of older adults in a life course programme
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 659) Healthcare-associated infections and emergence of antibiotic resistance
- Chapter:
- (p. 659) Healthcare-associated infections and emergence of antibiotic resistance
- Author(s):
Benedikt Huttner
and Stephan Harbarth
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0086
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) present a significant challenge to the safe delivery of healthcare. The pool of patients at increased risk for HAI—such as chronically ill and immunosuppressed individuals—has been steadily growing due to the ageing of the population and advances in medicine. At the same time, pathogens resistant to multiple antimicrobials have become increasingly prevalent, complicating the management of HAI and increasing their associated morbidity and mortality. Older people are especially affected by these trends. Limitation of the use of invasive devices, preventing transmission through hand hygiene and other measures, and the appropriate use of antimicrobials for treatment and prophylaxis have all been recognized as key strategies for the control of HAI and antimicrobial resistance.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 79 Immunosenescence and infectious diseases
- Chapter 80 Epidemiology of infection in elderly populations in various settings
- Chapter 81 Pneumonia and respiratory tract infections
- Chapter 82 Tuberculosis in old age
- Chapter 83 Bone and periprosthetic joint infections in older adults
- Chapter 84 Infective endocarditis
- Chapter 85 Ageing with HIV
- Chapter 86 Healthcare-associated infections and emergence of antibiotic resistance
- Chapter 87 Healthcare-associated infections and infection control
- Chapter 88 Vaccines against viral infections
- Chapter 89 Integration of vaccination of older adults in a life course programme
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing