OBJECTIVE:Our population is aging and infections often affect the aged,thus the antibiotic treatment for them is an important
issue.To improve the status of antibiotic usage for infections in elderly.METHODS:It was reviewed the 608 fatal cases of inpatients with infections aged over 60 years,admitted from January 1990 to December 1996.RESULTS:Penicillins,cephlosporins and quinolones were the most frequently used
antibiotics for them,accounting for 21%,16% and 10%
respectively.The use of vacomycin is increasing in 1996 in terms of case number,because of resistance of staphylococcus aureus to methicillin.Mycotic infections accounted for 53.2% of the fatalities.In terms of case number,antifungal drugs accounted for 3.54% and 9.78% of total antibiotic usage in the years 19991 and 1995 respectively.The great majority (81.5%) of the ten most frequently used antibiotics has DUI≤1.CONCLUSION:To improve treatment outcome,the judicious use of antifungal drugs and vancomycin is recommended.Implications:This study impacts on the rational use of antibiotics in the eldely.