The Infections of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Four Year Experience of the Center

Objective: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) have been increasingly used in recent years. The incidence of infection has ranged from 0.5 % to 12% in the literature. The purposes of this study was to investigate the frequency of CIED infection and to find the causes of infection. Patients and methods: Totally, 211 patients with CIED infection were retrospectively evaluated. For each patient, all the following data were recorded; age, sex, CIED type, accompanying diseases, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, echocardiographic findings and whether first implantation or replacement. In addition, wound culture, antibiotic regime, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and anticoagulation test results were recorded in infected patients. Results: CIED infection was detected in 18 of the 211 patients (8.5%). 15 cases developed infection following the first implantation (10%), and 3 cases after replacement (5%). Infection was detected within 60 days in 5 patients. CIED pocket cultures were positive in 12 patients (66.7%). 13 of 18 infected devices were removed (72.2%). Diabetes mellitus [Odds Ratio, OR: 4.56 (1.449-14.408)] (p=0.010), male sex [OR: 3.84 (1.034-14.232)] (p=0.045) and increasing age [OR: 0.96 (0.932-0.998)] (p=0.038) were found as significant independent variables on development of CIED; but, pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization were not independent variables [OR: 1.66 (0.469-5.929)] (p=0.43). Conclusions: Increasing age, male sex, diabetes mellitus were related to increased frequency of CIED infections. Identification of comorbid conditions prior to CIED implantations may be important in reducing risk of CIED infections.