We reviewed the data on 26 patients with permanent endocardial pacemakers who had 28 episodes of bacteremia to determine whether removal of the wire is required. Patients recovered completely from the first episode in seven of 20 cases of staphylococcal bacteremia and in six of six cases of nonstaphylococcal bacteremia (P = .015). Definitive cure was not achieved during the first episode in seven cases of staphylococcal bacteremia related to the pacing system when the wire was not withdrawn; however, cure was achieved in five of six cases when the whole pacemaker was removed (P < .01). The duration of treatment was longer for the patients from whom the wire was not removed during the first episode (P < .01). Whether cases of staphylococcal bacteremia were related to the pacing system or not, the rate of recovery of the responsible microorganism from the wires was similar for both groups of patients (six [82%] of seven and three [75%] of four, respectively). Nonstaphylococcal bacteremia was unrelated to the pacing system in five of six cases; these patients were all cured without removal of the wire.

Sustained Bacteremia in 26 Patients with a Permanent Endocardial Pacemaker: Assessment of Wire Removal

Infection is a major complication of pacemaker treatment. Antibiotic prophylaxis has been used in association with pacemaker surgery with conflicting results, and conclusive prospective trials are lacking. This investigation indicated that systemic antibiotic prophylaxis was of benefit when infections occurred frequently. The effect of local antibiotic prophylaxis was comparable with that of systemic prophylaxis at generator replacements. No serious adverse effects of the prophylaxis were noted. However, with modern surgical methods and hygienic principles, antibiotic prophylaxis did not seem to be necessary at implantation of new cardiac pacemakers. Once infection had developed it was difficult to eradicate and serious complications sometimes occurred. Most infections commenced in the pacemaker pocket. A few cases were cured by antibiotic treatment alone but, particularly if the infection spread along the electrode, surgery was strongly needed and in the presence of endocarditis and/or septicemia all foreign material should be removed if possible. The most common causal microorganisms of pacemaker infections were Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Routinely performed pre-, per- and postoperative cultures were of no prognostic value. Persistent use of antibiotics could select for methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci, therefore bacteriological monitoring of wound infections was considered important. The dosage schedules used for cloxacillin and flucloxacillin gave satisfactory serum concentrations peroperatively. Local treatment with cloxacillin in the pacemaker pocket peroperatively gave adequate concentrations in tissue fluid from the pocket 24 h after the operation, as did systemic administration of flucloxacillin. The pharmacokinetics of flucloxacillin in these elderly patients differed in some respects from that found in healthy volunteers. Plasma elimination half-life was almost twice as long. Despite the high degree of plasma protein binding, flucloxacillin appeared to pass rapidly and efficiently to extravascular compartments, such as a pacemaker pocket.

Pacemaker infections. A clinical study with special reference to prophylactic use of some isoxazolyl penicillins.

Infections in bionic man: The pathobiology of infections in prosthetic devices—Part II

The records of 1,235 consecutive patients treated with long-term pacing by the endocardial route between 1964 and 1977 were analyzed to determine the incidence, mechanism, course and treatment of septicemia Septicemia developed in 12 patients (1 percent), and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the blood culture in 10 All patients were treated with the usual prolonged course of bactericidal drugs Treatment was successful in only two of the seven patients whose endocardial pacing system was left in place; in three of the seven the septicemia recurred, necessitating removal of the endocardial system, and two of these patients died In the remaining four patients the endocardial wire was promptly withdrawn, with use of a thoracotomy when necessary, and an epicardial system inserted; all of these patients survived This is the treatment of choice

Septicemia in patients with an endocardial pacemaker

Between 1971 and 1978 septicaemia was observed in 14 patients undergoing permanent pacemaker treatment. The causative microorganisms were: S aureus (9), S. epidermidis (3), alfa–haemolytic streptococci + P. morganii (1), enterococci (1). In 4 patients, a mural endocarditis of the right atrial wall surrounding the electrode was found at operation or autopsy. The interval between the preceding pacemaker operation and onset of septicaemia varied between 2 days and 23 months (median 2 months). In 5 patients, the last operation before septicaemia was performed because of local infection in the pacemaker pocket or along the electrode. A probable portal of entry was found in 11 patients. The electrode was the origin in 8, the pacemaker pocket in one, and a focus outside the pacemaker system in 2. Of the 6 patients treated with antibiotics alone, 3 were cured. 2 died and one is still on treatment. Eight patients underwent various surgical procedures in addition to the antibiotic treatment. In 4 the electrode was ...

Grace Wj

Papers

Incidence of septicemia in patients with cardiac pacemakers.