Septicaemia in patients with temporary and permanent endocardial pacemakers.

Twenty-four patients with staphylococcal septicaemia due to permanent (14) and temporary (10) endocardial pacemakers were reviewed. With permanent pacemakers local inflammation was usually present and the onset of septicaemia rapid. If patients were treated with high dose intravenous flucloxacillin combined with removal, recovery was usual. In patients with retained endocardial tips (6) we eradicated infection with medical treatment alone in four cases. We would advocate antistaphylococcal prophylaxis for patients undergoing revision in the presence of local inflammation and high dose intravenous flucloxacillin plus a second anti-staphylococcal antibiotic (e.g. gentamicin) in patients with septicaemia and a pacemaker in situ.