Successful management of an infected implantable cardioverter defibrillator with oral antibiotics and without removal of the device.

Infection of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator developed 2 weeks after implantation, presenting with fever, swelling, redness, and tenderness of the skin above the generator site. A cloxacillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococcus was repeatedly cultured from the abdominal wall pocket fluid. The infection was successfully treated with a combination of two antibiotics, fusidic acid and rifampin, given orally for 3 months. Although the device was not removed, infection did not recur during a 24-month follow-up.