Significance of pharyngeal colonization with aerobic gram-negative bacilli in elderly institutionalized men.

The prevalence of pharyngeal colonization with aerobic Gram-negative rods was studied on three occasions during one year in 68 elderly males resident on two long-term care wards. For the three surveys, pharyngeal carriage was identified in 43%, 43%, and 37% of residents. Each resident tended to remain either colonized or noncolonized. Pharyngeal colonization was associated with resident incontinence, the development of infection, and increased mortality during the year of observation.