Although rare, infection of a pacemaker or a defibrillator is an important complication which must and can be treated effectively. Cardiac electronic implantable device (CIED) infection is a Class I indication for extraction but recent data have demonstrated that less than 2 in 10 patients receive appropriate treatment. Prof Carina Blomström-Lundqvist, Swedish Professor of Cardiology, and Dr Archie Rao, British consultant cardiologist, are both passionate about this topic. Carina Blomström-Lundqvist is the lead author of the European CIED infection guidelines and Archie Rao has led a gap analysis into the knowledge of CIED infection and treatment. They explain how to recognise a patient at risk and what to do to provide best outcomes for your patient.

This series is supported by Philips.

How to Recognise and Treat CIED Infection - Carina Blomström-Lundqvist and Archie Rao

Although rare, cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections may occur at any timepoint in the lifecycle. It is important to remain alert and recognise signs early. Traditionally, antibiotics alone are used to treat infection. But for CIED infections, when treated with antibiotics only, the relapse rate varies between 50 and 100 percent. But why is that? Dan Atar, Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal ‘Cardiology’, and infectiologist Stefan Hagel, not only challenge the traditional point of view but tear down the decades of belief which surround it. Why are antibiotics not doing the job? What are the consequences? What is the solution? Why are infections sometimes overlooked and what is the action to change that in your practice?

This series is supported by Philips.

Why Do Antibiotics Fail With CIED Infection? - Dan Atar and Stefan Hagel

Infection of a cardiac electronic implantable device (CIED) is a rare, but serious complication. We now know that, because of the appearance of biofilm on implants, these infections cannot be treated by antibiotics alone. As such, Worldwide Cardiac Society guidelines recommend complete system removal of all hardware, including the leads, when an infection is present. Although the guidelines are clear, too many patients continue to not get the appropriate treatment. Why is that? Mauro Biffi and Carina Blomström-Lundqvist, both experts in the field of lead extraction, see a lot of patients fall through the cracks. They discuss why and what the consequences are of not extracting in time but also: what is the recommended care pathway to improve the outcomes.

This series is supported by Philips.

Lead Extraction is the Solution to Treat CIED Infection - Mauro Biffi & Carina Blomström-Lundqvist

Infection of a cardiac electronic implantable device (CIED) is a rare, but serious, complication. When this happens, the removal of the entire system, generator and leads, is the only correct way to treat the infection. What happens during a procedure with lead extraction? Brigitte Osswald, an expert in the field who has performed more than 3,500 lead extraction procedures, talks to Nicola Montano, a physician in internal medicine, about the fundamentals of the procedure and explains why and how this is lifesaving for her patients.

This series is supported by Philips.

Procedure of Lead Extraction - Brigitte Osswald and Nicola Montano

When the pacemaker or the defibrillator of a patient becomes infected, and if it's not immediately treated correctly, it can be a very emotional journey for the patient. Prof Biffi and Prof Ferreira have treated many CIED infection patients and often see cases where treatment was inappropriate or unnecessarily delayed. They share two touching patient stories with Prof Nicola Montano, physician in internal medicine. They discuss how these patients fell through the cracks of the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway and the devastating consequences for the patient.

This series is supported by Philips.

Patients Stories of a CIED Infection – Nicola Montano, Mauro Biffi and Ignacio Ferreira Gonzalez

An infection can have serious consequences for patients with a pacemaker or defibrillator when not treated appropriately. In this episode, Angelo Auricchio and Archie Rao explore which practical changes can be made to your clinical setting to improve these patients’ pathway.

This series is supported by Philips.

How to Improve the Care Pathway - Archie Rao and Angelo Auricchio

Patients with a pacemaker or defibrillator have a risk of having a device-related infection. Discover in this episode which actions can be taken to reduce the risk for infection. From pre-procedure planning to post-operative care, Dan Atar, Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal ‘Cardiology’, and Carina Blomström-Lundqvist, lead author on the international consensus document addressing this topic, will discuss preventative measures for CIED infection.

This series is supported by Philips.

How Can CIED Infection Be Prevented? - Dan Atar and Carina Blomström-Lundqvist

Did you know that less than 2 in 10 CIED infection patients receive treatment according to guidelines? This gap in care can have significant consequences for patient outcomes. But what if there was a way to leverage Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) to automatically detect these patients and ensure timely and appropriate treatment? In this episode, discover how these alerts can help you to make an early CIED infection diagnosis and streamline your treatment process. Additionally, learn valuable tips and tricks on how to successfully implement EMR alerts in your hospital.

This series is supported by Philips.

Leveraging Electronic Medical Records to Fight CIED Infections - Julia Vogler and Mark Metzl

This episode delves into why lead management can be challenging and highlights the importance of collaboration between referral and extraction centres. Learn about the long-term consequences of abandoning leads, the need for a holistic approach and strategies for overcoming barriers for early referral.

This series is supported by Philips.

Navigating the Grey Area of Lead Management Guidelines - Julia Vogler & Aldo Rinaldi

This episode covers empiric and targeted antibiotic strategies for CIED infections, highlighting why complete device extraction is essential and how to tailor therapy for the best patient outcomes.

How to Recognise and Treat CIED Infection - Carina Blomström-Lundqvist and Archie Rao

Optimal Management of CIED Infections Podcast

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