Antibiotic-Eluting Envelopes to Prevent Cardiac-Implantable Electronic Device Infection: Past, Present, and Future

Cardiac-implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this review, we describe the risk factors and pathogenesis of CIED infections and review the rationale and the evidence for the use of antibiotic-eluting envelopes (ABEs) in patients at increased risk for CIED infections.

The majority of CIED infections are caused by staphylococci that involve generator pocket and occur due to contamination of the device or the pocket tissues at the time of implantation. Clinical trials have shown that extending the duration of post-operative systemic antibacterial therapy is not beneficial in reducing CIED infection rate. However, ABEs that reduce device migration after implantation and provide sustained local delivery of prophylactic antibiotics at the pocket site, may provide benefit in reducing infection. Currently, there are two types of commercially available CIED envelope devices in the United States. The first ABE device (TYRX™, Medtronic Inc., Monmouth Junction, NJ) is composed of a synthetic absorbable mesh envelope that elutes minocycline and rifampin and has been shown to reduce CIED pocket infections in a large multi-center randomized clinical trial. The second ABE device (CanGaroo-G™, Aziyo Biologics, Silver Spring, MD) is composed of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) and was originally designed to stabilize the device within the pocket, limiting risk for migration or erosion, and providing a substrate for tissue ingrowth in a preclinical study. This device has shown promising results in a preclinical study with local delivery of gentamicin. Compared with artificial materials, such as synthetic surgical mesh, biologic ECM has been shown to foster greater tissue integration and vascular ingrowth, a reduced inflammatory response, and more rapid clearance of bacteria.

ABE devices provide sustained local delivery of antibiotics at the generator pocket site and appear beneficial in reducing CIED pocket infections. Given the continued increase in the use of CIED therapy and resultant infectious complications, innovative approaches to infection prevention are critical.