Medical Emergencies · single question
When prescribing antibiotics to a 90-year-old, the most important pharmacologic consideration is:
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Correct answer: B. Decreased glomerular filtration rate (age-related renal decline)
- A. Hepatic/renal function declines with age — metabolism slows, it doesn't increase.
- B. Correct. Reduced GFR with age slows renal drug clearance, so dosing must account for decreased renal function.
- C. Doses are often reduced, not increased, in the elderly.
- D. Renal and hepatic decline mean dosing differs from a healthy young adult.
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