Bacteraemia in the elderly: predictors of outcome in an urban teaching hospital

Bacteraemia in the elderly has a high mortality rate, but is not significantly increased in those ≧75 years of age. The recent microbiology has shifted from Gram negative bacilli to Gram positive cocci. Physiologic abnormalities on admission predict worse outcomes in the elderly bacteraemic patient. Hypoalbuminemia on admission is associated with higher mortality rates in the elderly.