[Infective endocarditis in patients with permanent pacemaker]

Arq Bras Cardiol. 1994 Apr;62(4):243-6.
[Article in Portuguese]

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Echocardiography
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / therapy
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / therapy
  • Streptococcus