Assessment of infection in older adults. Signs and symptoms in four body systems.

Emerging infections and increased antibiotic resistance are growing concerns within the health care community. Nurses play an important role in the early recognition of clinical manifestations of infection in older adults. Atypical presentation in older adults, the presence of comorbid conditions, and altered immune status all present challenges to both diagnosis and effective treatment in this population. The purpose of this article is to review common infections seen in older adults, with an emphasis on the integration of the effects of physiological changes of aging on patient presentation and nursing assessment.