[Pacemaker infection caused by Staphylococcus schleiferi].

Pacemaker infection is one of the severe complication of pacemaker implantation. We report a case of pacemaker infection caused by Staphylococcus schleiferi which is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus, and its relation with human infection is not well characterized. In 1994, a 80-year-old male presented with a pacemaker pocket infection, cutaneous inflammation but no fever 2 months after insertion of a pacemaker. S. schleiferi was isolated from the pus. The patient was given cefazolin for 5 days. One month later he was readmitted because of cutaneous inflammation and the extruded generator was removed. S. schleiferi was isolated from the generator. After the patient was treated with cefazolin for 3 weeks, four consecutive wound cultures were all negative. A new generator was inserted on the same side. One month after re-insertion, the patient again presented a cutaneous inflammation, and S. schleiferi was isolated from the pus as well as the generator and the leads on their removal. Twenty-six days later, a new pacing system was inserted on the other side. There was no further recurrence of the infection. Removal of the entire pacing system was necessary to cure the infection. We expect further information of human infections caused by S. schleiferi.