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Due to the high risk of infection, the geriatric population is regularly subjected to antibiotics. Faced with bacterial resistance, particularly among elderly dependent patients, it is essential to promote proper use and correct prescription of antibiotics. A study evaluated antibiotic prescription in a geriatric hospital with 598 beds and highlighted the importance of collaboration between geriatricians and infectious disease specialists.

As hospitals' visiting times are extended, patients' families and friends are granted an ever more important place. The nursing team of an acute geriatrics unit open 24/7 examined the place and the role of patients' families and friends and their involvement in care.

For patients at the end of life, caregivers must sometimes make choices between prolonging life and quality of life. There are several tools to assist in the decision-making process and the implementation, notably with regard to the limiting of active treatment. The issues to consider include limiting or stopping treatment, Leonetti's law with advance directives and the fight against unreasonable obstinacy and, more recently, the "mandate for future protection". The patient must always remain the focus and be allowed to express their wishes, if they want to, directly or with the help of a third party.

In the elderly, urinary tract infections are frequent. Diagnosis is not always evident because symptoms are often absent. In doubt, a urinary strip evaluation must be performed. Prevention begins with simple lifestyle and dietary rules, such as good voiding and adequate fluid intake. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is treated only in certain cases. Other urinary tract infections require antibiotics, which must be adapted to renal function.

As is the case with all medical and surgical departments, the proportion of elderly patients in intensive care departments is gradually increasing.At Ambroise Pare hospital, in Boulogne-Billancourt, a natural collaboration has been set up between intensive care staff and geriatricians to adapt the care provided and to limit situations of unreasonable therapeutic obstinacy, notably thanks to a standardised gathering of information.

A study carried out in two hospitals in the Paris region shows that the patients surveyed find the health care surrogate system interesting but also that there is widespread lack of awareness of the subject. The system appears to correspond to patients' expectations with the majority of patients nominating a family member.

Many healthcare professionals prejudge the capacity of a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease to designate a health care surrogate. Consequently they deprive themselves of a person with whom they can discuss the patient's care while also depriving the patient of support and assistance.While the task of the health care surrogate is made more difficult as a result of cognitive disorders, their role can only be beneficial in a balanced relationship.

The theme of the surrogate is not established in the practice of general practitioners yet. Their long-term relation with patients places them in a favorable position to approach this topic. The surrogate could improve the quality of patient's care. Some factors limiting the surrogate's designation are indicators of the current deficiencies of the surrogate's device.

A procedure for the systematic nomination of a health care surrogate was put in place following a multi-disciplinary approach within an acute care geriatric unit at Ambroise-Paré hospital in Boulogne-Billancourt. Its originality lies in the way the whole team, on the initiative of a doctor, prepared the procedure, implemented it and assessed it. A review.

For people born in France, age is a major risk factor for developing tuberculosis.This curable pathology still has a high mortality rate which increases with age. Diagnosis difficulties, tolerance and compliance with treatment are issues specific to old age. An active policy of prevention, monitoring and training should enable the incidence of this pathology to continue to fall.

Due to the potential seriousness of its consequences, particular attention must be paid to malaise occurring in elderly people. It represents between 5 and 10% of hospital admissions of patients over the age of seventy. A full clinical examination as well as some additional examinations usually enable the cause(s) to be identified. Cardio-vascular and iatrogenic pathologies are the most frequent aetiologies.

A geriatric syndrome in its own right, malnutrition must be systematically looked for whenever an elderly patient is being treated. A marker of vulnerability, once identified it requires repeated assessment and adapted treatment. Undernutrition is often the consequence of various aetiologies justifying a full assessment and an assertive, multi-professional treatment.