Bacterial pneumonia in the elderly.

A retrospective study was made of patients having community-acquired pneumonia and treated at a large municipal hospital in 1973. Patients from nursing homes or other paramedical facilities were excluded. The incidence of Gram-negative bacillary pneumonia was significantly higher in elderly patients compared to two younger groups, and mortality from this type of pneumonia was higher than from pneumococcal or staphylococcal types or from pneumonia of unknown cause. Recommendations are made for the initial treatment of elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.