Infection

Nope

by Cabg Patch - 2016-08-09 00:09:40

My infection wasn't for no reason, apparently I pissed God off...

I don't understand what you mean...you got an infection because the implant site was contaminated.

infection

by Tracey_E - 2016-08-09 10:40:41

As Patch said, the infection came from somewhere. It can come up months or sometimes even years after a surgery. It's more common to remove it and clear up the infection before placing it again. If you do it before kicking the infection, it can get infected on the other side. Have they done cultures to determine exactly what kind of infection it is? You want to be 100% sure you're hitting it with the right meds. 

It was maybe just bad luck

by IAN MC - 2016-08-09 14:24:16

Hi Jupage     Unfortunately EVERY operation done in a hospital carries a risk of getting a post-operative infection, maybe you were just unlucky.   It is interesting that :-

-  According to collected data, infection is more likely to occur after a PM replacement than after the initial implant . 

-  Surgeons do the usual things to minimise the risk ; they wash their hands, they sterilise the implant site,  they usually give prophylactic ( i.e. infection -preventative ) antibiotics but despite these measures you may still end up with an infection

Hospitals are not the best places to be cut open because of all the bacteria there.  Once there is bacteria in the implant site it may remain dormant for some time before it flares up ; or you may have been invaded by external bacteria which has latched on to the foreign object. You will never know which has happened to you.

It is also interesting that for ALL  operations  it has been found that the biggest risk-factor in terms of infection is the length of time you spend in hospital . The longer you are in hospital, the more likely you are to get a post-operative infection.

My cardiologist is very interested in post-operative infections and he sends most patients home on the day of their initial PM implant . I had mine put in at 11.00am and returned home at 5.30 pm . He said " the safest place for you to spend the night is at home ".   I get the impression on here that this is not typical in most hospitals.

I hope the flucloxacillin works , there are other antibiotics if it doesn't.

Best of luck

Ian