Antimicrobial peptides as a replacement in the administration of antibiotics in the elderly

Abstract

The aging population has raised concerns about vulnerability to diseases and infections in older adults, leading to increased dependency on antibiotics. However, antibiotics resistance and associated side effects represent challenges. To address this issue, a review of recent studies on the use of antimicrobial peptides in the elderly is conducted. The methodology involves an exhaustive search in academic databases, selection of relevant studies, critical assessment regarding quality and bias, and extraction of key data. The results of this review show that, in a third-level hospital in Bogotá, 13.8% of prescriptions included at least one antibiotic, with the most prescribed being cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin. Additionally, it was observed that most prescriptions lacked detailed information about the route of administration and treatment duration. The implications of this study are broad. Antimicrobial peptides offer applications in medicine, dermatology, dentistry, food industry, and agriculture due to their ability to combat a variety of microorganisms. Despite facing logistical challenges, these peptides emerge as a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, possessing a broad spectrum of action and effective mechanisms against different pathogens. However, further research is needed to fully understand their efficacy and safety in the elderly, and addressing logistical challenges such as production costs and susceptibility to degradation is essential.