Practical Geriatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (4): 325-329.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2025.04.001

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Epidemiological characteristics of sepsis in the elderly

SHANG Zhaoming, CHEN Mingquan   

  1. Emergency Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040 Shanghai, China
  • Received:2025-03-10 Online:2025-04-20 Published:2025-04-22
  • Contact: CHEN Mingquan,Email:mingquanchen@fudan.edu.cn

Abstract: Sepsis is a core cause of infection-related mortality in the elderly. This article describes the epidemiological characteristics of sepsis in the elderly. Globally, the incidence and mortality rates of sepsis in the elderly increase significantly with age, and there are significant regional differences; Etiologically, Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) are predominant, and the risk of infection with drug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is increasing; Common sites of infection are lung, urinary tract and abdomen, and the mortality rate of central nervous system infection is the highest; Risk factors include age, comorbidities (cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, chronic organ dysfunction), immunosenescence, and iatrogenic factors. These suggest that we need to strengthen early diagnosis, optimize antibiotic strategies, and implement individualized treatment to reduce the burden of sepsis in the elderly in the future.

Key words: aged, sepsis, epidemiology, etiology, site of infection, risk factor

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