Joseph M. Blondeau, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal University Hospital; Department of Microbiology, Department of Immunology and Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK.
Glenn S. Tillotson, Oscient Pharmaceuticals, Waltham, MA; Public Health Research Laboratory, Newark, NJ, USA.

Antimicrobial agents are essential for the treatment of patients with bacterial infectious diseases. Unfortunately, the global escalation of antibiotic resistant pathogens in both the community and hospital settings have compromised the use of some compounds for treating both common and uncommon infections. Over the past three to four years, several new or modified compounds have been approved and may have applicability in treating a wide range of infections in older patients. Some brief characteristics of these compounds and their appropriate indications are summarized.

Key words: older adult, antimicrobial agents, antibiotics, fluoroquino-lones, ketolides.