Diagnosis of community-acquired bloodstream infection in the elderly at primary care / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a serious clinical condition with high fatality rate. The elderly patients account for a large proportion of community-acquired BSI cases, and general practitioners should play an important role in early identification and diagnosis of community elderly BSI patients. This article reviews the status quo of diagnosis of community-acquired BSI in the elderly. Based on clinical manifestations, accessible biomarkers and blood cultures, general practitioners can make an early diagnosis and timely transfer the patients to reduce the fatality rate of community-acquired BSI.