title: Infections of implantable cardioverter defibrillators: approach to management.
abstract: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators are being used with increasing frequency for the treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Nevertheless, no guidelines exist for the management of infections of these devices. We report our experience with infections of these devices and review the English-language literature. In all cases, patients presented with local signs of generator infection; systemic signs of infection and bacteremia were often absent. Most infections are due to staphylococcus. Risk factors for the development of infection include placement of the device via median sternotomy during another cardiac surgical procedure, reoperation, and intercurrent infection at another site. Infections are most reliably treated with full explantation of the device and antibiotics. In rare cases, patients may respond to a combination of intravenous antibiotics and removal and replacement of only the generator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1192.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Spratt
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Blumberg
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kutalek
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Reboli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D010406:Penicillins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin