Abstract
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.