Infections in older adults are understudied and often undermanaged. In the UK, around 47,000 deaths from infections in 2023 were in people aged 65 and over, while there were about 10,000 deaths in people under 65. However, most research and attention is focused on infections in children and younger adults. Vaccination, better hygiene and antibiotics have significantly reduced mortality from infections in younger age groups. However, in older adults, infections remain a leading cause of death and a large proportion of preventable morbidity. Infections in this age group often take place atypically, which can delay their recognition and treatment. Older people are also more at risk of severe infections and complications. The authors emphasize that infections in older adults need more attention in research, diagnosis and treatment.