Ozgur Karcıoglu , Sarper Yilmaz , Mazlum Kilic , Neslihan Ergün Suzer , Sedat Ozbay , Ali Cankut Tatlıparmak , Mustafa Ayan

Abstract

The elderly or geriatric patients represent a significant portion of emergency department (ED) admissions. Factors affecting poor outcome in these patients suspected or diagnosed with sepsis include shock, hyperlactatemia, and organ failure. Atypical presentations should be emphasized in the training of triage and ED personnel due to difficulties and pitfalls in diagnostic processes for sepsis. The vital organ functions of the elderly, who are among the highest risk groups in the management of sepsis, may deteriorate rapidly with very few precursors, and aggressive methods should be used rapidly when necessary. Interactions of drug doses in the elderly, problems in excretion and differences in metabolism should be considered in treatment regimens. Healthcare workers should try to eliminate colonization risks such as vascular catheterization, unnecessary vascular access and urinary catheters should be removed.

In the long term after recovery from sepsis, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, dementia, and diabetes are the most common entities recorded in the literature. This review was intended to provide an overview of the overall management and give some practical tips for this fragile group of patients in the post-pandemic era.