Considerations for the optimal management of antibiotic therapy in elderly patients.

•Physiological changes that occur with ageing can affect antibiotic pharmacokinetics.•Renal clearance is the most important factor affecting antibiotic levels in the elderly.•Few studies on antibiotic pharmacokinetics are available in elderly patients.•Inadequate drug dosages may favour drug-related adverse events in the elderly.•Therapeutic drug monitoring can guide antibiotic therapy in elderly patients.