title: Infections of intracardiac devices.
abstract: Intracardiac devices are increasingly used to correct hemodynamically dysfunctional valves and electrophysiologic abnormalities. These devices become infected at relatively low rates. Nevertheless, when these low rates are applied to widely used devices, significant numbers of infections result. Additionally, these infections have been associated with high degrees of morbidity and high mortality rates. This article reviews the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical presentation, and medical as well as surgical therapy of intracardiac device infections.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Kennedy-6, Boston, MA 02215, USA. akarchme@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Adolf W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Karchmer
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Longworth
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000382:microbiology; D019468:Disease Management; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000009:adverse effects; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents