Infections of electrophysiologic cardiac devices

Abstract

Infections related to electrophysiologic cardiac device placement are increasing dramatically and are associated with adverse outcomes. With the US population aging and living longer, cardiac devices are utilized in an older population with significant comorbidities, making the threat from infectious complications significant. Electrophysiologic cardiac devices typically include an implanted pulse generator and an intravascular lead. Infection may occur at any component of the device, resulting in varied presentations. Bacteremia in cardiac device recipients may reflect primary generator pocket infection, or alternate sources of bacteremia may result in secondary hematogenous lead infection. This review focuses on the pathology, diagnosis, management and prevention of electrophysiologic cardiac device infections.

Keywords::

• adverse event
• bacteremia
• cardiology
• defibrillator
• endocarditis
• infection
• pacemaker
• sepsis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Daniel Uslan has received consulting fees from TyRx Pharma, Inc. and honoraria from Pfizer and Cubist. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.