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Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation
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Pacemaker endocarditis: an important clinical entity

Kalpa De Silva1, Amanda Fife, Francis Murgatroyd

  • 1St Thomas' Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK.

BMJ Case Reports
|November 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pacemaker endocarditis, a rare complication, can be caused by Serratia marcescens. Device removal is recommended for confirmed cases, as antibiotics alone are often insufficient for treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Device Complications

Background:

  • Pacemaker endocarditis is a rare but serious complication following pacemaker implantation.
  • Serratia marcescens represents an uncommon pathogen in pacemaker endocarditis.
  • The indolent presentation of lead-associated endocarditis poses diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight Serratia marcescens as a rare cause of pacemaker endocarditis.
  • To discuss the management complexities associated with this organism.
  • To emphasize the importance of device explantation in confirmed cases.

Main Methods:

  • Case illustration of pacemaker endocarditis.
  • Review of current literature on pacemaker endocarditis management.
  • Diagnostic correlation using echocardiography, clinical status, and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

  • Serratia marcescens can cause pacemaker endocarditis with potentially indolent progression.
  • Antimicrobial therapy alone is generally inadequate for curative treatment.
  • Confirmed pacemaker endocarditis necessitates device explantation.

Conclusions:

  • Pacemaker endocarditis requires a comprehensive management approach.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention, including device removal, are crucial.
  • Serratia marcescens presents unique challenges in managing pacemaker endocarditis.

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