Coronary stent infections: a case series.

Stent infection is a rare sequela of coronary stent implantation first reported fifteen years ago. Since that time, much has been learned about this dramatic disease entity by way of case report and review. Nevertheless, clinical experience with regard to the diagnosis and management of coronary artery stent infection remains limited. Here, we report 3 cases of coronary stent infections; 2 with mycotic aneurysms (seen on coronary angiography) that ruptured into an adjacent cardiac chamber, and one with purulent pericarditis. The microbiology as well as the possible mechanisms and risk factors for these infections are discussed. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.