Septicaemia and its unacceptably high mortality in the elderly.

During a period of two years the overall mortality rate among 218 patients with septicaemia was 22.4 per cent. Mortality among patients of over 60 years of age, however, was 36.6 per cent compared with only 5.1 per cent for those below that age. This difference was highly significant (P less than 0.001). For pneumococcal septicaemia the figures were particularly disturbing, the death rate being 65 per cent for the former age group, but remaining nil for the latter. Of the 49 deaths, 44 (89.8 per cent) and five (10.2 per cent), respectively, were in those above and below that age. As death from septicaemia in the elderly seems to be unacceptably high, early institution of antibiotic therapy, even for the patient at home, is advocated so as to forestall the onset of shock. Although controversial and debatable this measure seems to be justified because it might significantly improve prognosis.