title: Pacemaker endocarditis during 18 years in Göteborg.
abstract: Pacemaker endocarditis is a rare but serious complication. Few studies addressing its treatment have been published. Clinical characteristics and outcome were retrospectively studied in 38 patients with 44 episodes of pacemaker infective endocarditis (PMIE) in Göteborg, during 1984-2001. The male/female ratio of episodes was 27/17 and the mean age 69 y. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed vegetation in 4/22 (18%) episodes and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 22/33 (67%). Staphylococci were isolated in 66% of blood cultures. The pacemaker system (PS) was removed in 28 episodes and in 18 of these there were no signs of reinfection at follow-up. In 16 episodes the PS was not removed, and in 13 of these, signs of infection were found at follow-up. Thus, the present study of PMIE showed staphylococci to be predominant causative agents and demonstrated a high diagnostic sensitivity of TEE. According to our results, PM removal rather than conservative treatment should be considered in all cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 416 85 Göteborg, Sweden. hannil@mailer.mednet.gu.se
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rundström
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennergren
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alestig
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hogevik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020878:Device Removal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents