Use Caution to Prevent Infection When Implanting Pacemakers or Defibrillators

The rate of infection associated with implantable cardiac devices (pacemakers or defibrillators) is increasing, probably because of expanding indications, placement of devices in sicker patients, and a broadening cadre of implanting physicians and facilities. To estimate the cost of device-related infections infected devices to individuals and society, investigators analyzed Medicare data for 200,219 hospital admissions during 2007 that included a fee-for-service pacemaker or defibrillator implantation, replacement, or revision procedure.

In all, 2.9% of cardiac-device admissions involved an infection. The mean adjusted total cost of a single admission with infection ranged from $28,676 to $53,349; intensive care and supplies, including repl…