Pulmonary infection and MOF in the elderly

Multiple organ failure （MOF） has been a new topic of emergency care in the last ecade. But in the elderly, it is reported recently as a clinical syndrome by Shiwen Wang and ppears to be the only report in this age group in the international literature. It is quite ifferent in the mechanism, clinical course, preciptating factors, from that in the young and idaged people often occurring after severe trauma, major operation or septicemia. In this aper, 112 cases of this condition in the elderly were retrospectively analysed, in which the ain precipitating factor is pulmonary infection （92 cases, 82.9%）, and Gram negative bacillus ccounts for 56.5% of cases. Possibly, common cold, pulmonary function decrease and low mmunity esponse, act as the main contributing factors. The detailed mechanism and other related actors re further discussed in the paper.