Successful management of an infected implantable cardioverter defibrillator with oral antibiotics and without removal of the device

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1997 Sep;20(9 Pt 1):2268-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1997.tb04247.x.

Abstract

Infection of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator developed 2 weeks after implantation, presenting with fever, swelling, redness, and tenderness of the skin above the generator site. A cloxacillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococcus was repeatedly cultured from the abdominal wall pocket fluid. The infection was successfully treated with a combination of two antibiotics, fusidic acid and rifampin, given orally for 3 months. Although the device was not removed, infection did not recur during a 24-month follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use*
  • Fusidic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / drug therapy*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / therapy
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Fusidic Acid
  • Rifampin