Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator and Pacemaker Infections

Publication date: Available online 10 January 2015 Source:Hospital Medicine Clinics Author(s): Ryan M. van Hoff , Harley P. FriedmanTeaser As the use of implantable cardiac devices increases, the incidence of device-associated infections in patients with these devices is increasing in parallel. It is important for hospitalists to understand the presentation, diagnosis, and management of patients with cardiac implantable electronic device infections because they are likely to encounter them and they may be the first medical contact with these patients. Principal tenets of management include the initiation of empiric antibiotics and early device removal. Failure to recognize cardiac device infection may lead to delays in treatment, with potentially fatal consequences, but most patients make a complete recovery if treated appropriately.
Source: Hospital Medicine Clinics - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research