Elderly Infections Ignored: Whitty Demands Action

England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, has issued a call for greater attention to infections affecting older adults, deeming them "under-served" in current care and research. He highlighted that historically, the medical community has been too passive about these illnesses, often dismissing them as a natural part of aging. This approach needs a significant shift, as interventions can improve outcomes.

Sir Chris's annual report underscores that infections in the elderly are often managed inconsistently compared to younger populations. He pointed out that research funding for these issues is proportionally small, despite older adults overwhelmingly dominating infection-related deaths. With an aging population, this problem is projected to worsen if proactive measures are not implemented.

Beyond direct mortality, infections pose serious secondary risks to the elderly, including an increased likelihood of strokes for up to a year post-infection. Sir Chris advocates for a lower threshold for prescribing antibiotics in older individuals due to higher risks of complications like sepsis, contrasting this with the need for caution against antibiotic resistance in younger populations. He also urged older adults to adopt preventative measures like handwashing and vaccinations.