Abstract
From January 1989 to December 1998, 212 permanent pacemakers were implanted by our clinic (146 new implants and 66 replacements). Pacemaker infection was recognized in 5 cases. The overall incidence of infection was 2.3%, and its rate in new implants and in replacement implants was 1.4 and 4.5% respectively. Early infection (within 3 months) was identified in 2 cases. Staphylococcus aureus was present in three cases. One patient had the system removed and a new unit implanted. One patient underwent explantation of the generator. Three patients received intravenous antibiotics with relocation of the generators or local irrigation, but two of them required the removal of the system.
