Intraabdominal Infections in Older Adults

Key points: Intraabdominal infections may be confined, localized, or diffuse. Compared with younger patients, elderly patients with intraabdominal infection tend to present in delayed or atypical fashion and have a narrow therapeutic window, both of which are associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment of intraabdominal infections is based on source control and judicious use of antibiotics. In elderly patients, this requires a balanced approach, taking into consideration the invasiveness and inherent risk of a procedure as well as its efficacy for producing the desired outcomes. Multimodal and aggressive preventative management of geriatric syndromes and collateral damage of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions decreases the risk of adverse outcomes in geriatric acute-surgery patients.