title: Coronary stent infection: a rare but severe complication of percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: During the last two decades, the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) has steadily increased in Switzerland, as has the use of coronary stents. However, reports of coronary stent infections are very rare. In the present article we review all published cases of coronary stent infections. All patients presented with symptoms of infection within the first four weeks after PCI. Clinical hallmarks of stent infection were fever and chest pain. Blood cultures were positive in all patients. Despite the use of intravenous antibiotics in all except one patient and surgical drainage of the infectious focus in the majority of affected individuals mortality was high (40%). Thus, coronary stent infection, although exceedingly rare, represents a life-threatening complication and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with fever during the first few weeks after PCI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Beat A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Matthias E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pfisterer
authors.forename: Piero O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bonetti
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible