Hemophilus Influenza Infection of an Implantable Insulin-Pump Pocket

OBJECTIVE To increase awareness of adverse events associated with the use of implantable insulin pumps. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A descriptive case report of a pump implant infection. RESULTS This is a case report of one implanted insulin pump-pocket infection among a series of 15 patients. After exposure to a child with a respiratory infection on PID 30, V.L.C. (the patient) developed a fulminant pump-pocket infection. H. influenza was recovered from it. Despite aggressive antibiotic therapy, the infection could not be controlled. Insulin delivery ceased, and the pump was explanted. The pump-pocket infection rapidly resolved with pump removal, permitting later reimplantation. CONCLUSIONS We have adopted the American Heart Association indications and antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens recommended for prevention of endocarditis in patients with prosthetic values for patients with implanted insulin pumps.