UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Geriatrics

Title: quinolones in the elderly

Keywords: urinary tract infection, quinolones, antibiotics (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/4/2010 by Amal Mattu, MD (Updated: 3/28/2024)
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When prescribing quinolones to elderly (e.g. for UTI) patients that are taking iron supplements, advise them to take the antibiotic several hours before taking the iron. Iron will bind the antibiotic in the GI tract and reduce its bioavailability.

[Anderson RS, Liang SY. Infections in elderly patients. Critical Decisions in Emergency Medicine, 2010;24(8):13-18.]