Intravascular device infections: epidemiology, diagnosis, and management

Cardiol Rev. 2007 Jan-Feb;15(1):13-23. doi: 10.1097/01.crd.0000197966.53529.67.

Abstract

Intravascular devices such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), and prosthetic vascular grafts are life-saving therapies for patients with malignant arrhythmias, heart failure, and various vascular diseases. As indications for their use have increased, so has the prevalence of infectious complications associated with these devices. We present a review of the clinical literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of infectious complications of these intravascular devices. Most intravascular device infections are thought to result from skin flora contamination during implantation. Infection of the subcutaneous portion of the device can subsequently track to deeper intravascular tissues. Infection that involves the intravascular or intracardiac portion of these devices carries a high morbidity and mortality. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, cure of infection is frequently possible only with device removal. Well-designed placebo-controlled, randomized studies evaluating antimicrobial therapy for treatment of intravascular device infections are lacking. In the absence of better information, authorities recommend antibiotics targeted toward cultured organisms for approximately 4 to 6 weeks and device removal.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections* / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections* / epidemiology
  • Bacterial Infections* / etiology
  • Bacterial Infections* / therapy
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis / adverse effects
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis / microbiology*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / microbiology*
  • Device Removal
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects
  • Heart-Assist Devices / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents