How to diagnose and manage patients with cardiac implantable electronic device infections

Abstract

Abstract Over the last two decades, there has been a surge in the number of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) implantation. These devices improve the quality of life and survival among certain cardiac patients. However, this benefit might be affected by device complications and one of the most important ones is CIED infection as it carries significant morbidity and mortality. CIED infection can present as a device pocket infection or endovascular infection and its diagnosis could be challenging. In general, management of CIED infection involves device removal and antibiotic therapy and requires collaboration between different clinical teams. Future efforts and research should focus on measures to prevent the occurrence of this outcome.

Keywords

• Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)
• Pacemaker
• Defibrillator
• Infection
• Endocarditis