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[Infective endocarditis in patients with permanent pacemaker]
S do C Jorge1, D D Kormann, P Medeiros
1Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo.
Abstract:
Five patients who had permanent pacemaker and infective endocarditis were analyzed. Diagnose was confirmed by a positive blood cultures in all patients and 2 of them had identifiable vegetation in the echocardiogram too. The etiologic agent was Staphylococcus aureus in 3, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1 and Staphylococcus viridans in 1. Three patients were treated with antibiotics alone: one had no clinical conditions to be operated, one died before surgery and one had good response to antimicrobial therapy alone. Two patients were submitted to antibiotic therapy and surgical removal of the pacemaker system, without complications. It was concluded that the surgical removal of the pacemaker system, as soon as possible, is the choice's therapy.
Insights
Infective endocarditis in patients with permanent pacemakers requires prompt surgical removal of the pacemaker system. While antibiotics alone may suffice in some cases, surgery offers the best therapeutic outcome for this serious condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Device Infections
Background:
- Infective endocarditis is a serious infection that can affect heart valves and implanted devices.
- Permanent pacemakers are crucial for managing cardiac arrhythmias but can be a source of infection.
- Diagnosing and managing pacemaker-related infective endocarditis presents unique clinical challenges.