Nosocomial infections in acute leukemia: comparison between younger and elderly patients.

The progressive decline in immune functions render elderly individuals more susceptible to infections than younger patients. To evaluate potential age-related differences in nosocomial infections between younger ( 100/µl in 53% and in 78% respectively (P=0.002). No significant difference was documented in the overall incidence of infections, type of febrile episodes, nosocomial pattern, defervescence-time, median duration of antimicrobic therapy and in overall outcome. Elderly patients do not seem to be more susceptible to infections than younger ones, although the lower frequency of some risk factors must be taken into account. SUMMARY