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Infections in Diabetics

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Infectious Disease in the Aging

Part of the book series: Infectious Disease ((ID))

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Absstract

Diabetes mellitus occurs in approximately 18% of persons between the ages of 65 and 75 and in up to 40% of persons over age 80 years.

Elevated serum glucose levels associated with diabetes mellitus alter host immune responses, resulting in predisposition to infections.

The cumulative effect of age-related immune senescence, superimposed on this enhanced risk of infections in diabetics, can, in elderly diabetics, lead to serious and life-threatening infectious processes.

Because infection associated with aging can present in a subtle manner, prompt recognition of infection and treatment with appropriate empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents in conjunction with surgical intervention may be needed to eradicate such infections.

Common sites of infection associated with diabetes mellitus include the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, the urinary tract, as well as the skin, soft tissue, and bony structures particularly of the feet.

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Suggested Reading

  • Calvet, C.M., & Yoshikawa, T.T. (2001). Infections in diabetics. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 15, 407–421.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peleg, A.Y., Weerarathna, T., McCarthy, J.S., & Davis, T.M.E. (2007). Common infections in diabetes: pathogenesis, management and relationship to glycaemic control. Diabetes/ Metabolism Research Review, 23, 1–3.

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  • Rajagopalan, S. (2005). Serious infections in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 40, 990–996.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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  1. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, 600 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90005, USA

    Shobita Rajagopalan

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    © 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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    Rajagopalan, S. (2009). Infections in Diabetics. In: Norman, D., Yoshikawa, T. (eds) Infectious Disease in the Aging. Infectious Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-534-7_26

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-534-7_26

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    • Publisher Name: Humana Press

    • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-533-0

    • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-534-7

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