Infection

What are the chances of developing an infection at the PM site? I have an aunt who is up in her latter nineties that had a pm implant 2 months ago and developed an infection that has her in the hospital undeer hospice care. Any comments?

Sharon

3 Comments

So sorry....

by auntiesamm - 2007-07-17 04:07:37

Hi Sharon - The other Sharon here. I am sorry to hear of your aunt's infection in the PM site. Yes, it does happen but I do not believe the incidence is too high. Did she have an infection immediately following the placement or did this just develop suddenly? Is it the incision and below the surface? Is the infection so overwhelming she is under Hospice care or does she have other terminal medical problems? Is she being treated aggressively with antibiotics, IVs, etc. or just receiving comfort measures? Your aunt will definitely go on my "prayer list". God bless you and your aunt as you deal with her illness.
Sharon

it happens

by jessie - 2007-07-17 09:07:45

i have not had an infection but i know it does happen. let's face it it is a foreign body implanted in our bodies. i also think because she is 90 some her resistance to infection may not be high. so yes it does not surprize me at all. take care 220 chandler jessie

Sharon & Sharon

by valerie - 2007-07-17 11:07:55

hmmm, sounds like a company name.....like Johnson & Johnson lol

Anyway, to the Sharon with the post, I've had some experience with a pacemaker infection. I had it implanted November 3, 2006 and had it removed and replaced around December 24, 2006. The infection was at the implant site and moving down the leads.

There's more to it, but I'm a bit under the weather at the moment, so if you want to read more or less what happened to give you a general idea of what its all about, just go to the search option and type in something like, "update on infection" or something and you'll get the story.
I'm so sorry that your aunt is going through this complication. But it sounds like she has a great niece. Do you know how she got this infection? Locating the source of the infection is important so that the doctors know how to avoid this in the future (obviously).
Please keep us posted and know that people here are praying for her (as well as for you and your family).
take care,
~valerie

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