P1188Oral antibiotic treatment for local cardiac implantable electronic device infections: our 6-year experience
Authors: Adelino R , Ruiz B , Seder E , Vallejo N , Pereferrer D , Bisbal F , Bazan V , Sarrias A , Quesada D , Mateu L , Villuendas R , Bayes Genis A 
Published: June 2020

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is a severe disease with an increasing incidence due to the rise in the number of CIEDs implanted world-wide. Complete hardware removal is the treatment of choice, but there is little clinical data about the best antimicrobial strategy, such as the best choice of antibiotics, treatment duration and when to switch to oral administration in cases of local CIED infections.

PURPOSE

  In 2013, we designed a new protocol for CIED infection management, by which local infections were treated with complete hardware removal followed by empiric parenteral antibiotic during the first 72h, which was replaced to an oral agent (in case of negative blood cultures) and continued for 10 days. The oral antibiotic was selected according to the local cultures when positive, or to Clindamicin, Levofloxacin or Cotrimoxazole when no germ was identified. Our purpose is to describe our experience and results after the implementation of this strategy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive local CIED infection cases from the implementation of the protocol until September 2019, and evaluated the population characteristics, type of infection, rate of positive cultures and outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 74 cases of CIED infection, of which 46 (62%) were local. The average age of this population was 75.3 ± 13.2 yo and 65% (30) were male. The predominant comorbidities were diabetes (41%), congestive heart failure (30%), and malignancies (22%). Eighteen patients (39%) had previous local infection treated medically without hardware removal. Mean number of previous procedures was 2.65 ± 1.8, and 34 (74%) of the devices were pacemakers (single and dual chamber), 5 (11%) ICDs, 6 (13%)CRT-P and 1 (2%) CRT-D. Blood cultures were negative in all cases, whereas local cultures (exudate or intraoperative tissue) were positive in 32 (70%). The most frequent microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis in 18 (56%) and Staphylococcus aureus in 8 (25%), including 1 case of meticillin-resistance.  Intravenous Vancomycin was administered in all cases during 72 h, followed by oral antibiotics for a mean duration of 8.8 ± 3.3 days. Hardware removal was intended in all cases, with complete or clinical success in 42 and 3 cases respectively (global success rate 97.8%), and in one case (2.2%) an epicardial lead was not removed. During a mean follow-up of 30 months, 1 infection-related death occurred (2%) due to a side effect of intravenous antibiotic therapy, and there was 1 infection relapse (2%) in the only patient without complete hardware removal, related to the remnant epicardial lead.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral antimicrobial treatment with good bioavailability agents, associated with complete hardware removal is an effective strategy for the management of local CIED infections, with a low recurrence rate, and avoiding long hospitalizations and potential side effects of intravenous antibiotic therapy.