PERMANENT ENDOCAVITARY PACEMAKER LEAD INF ECTIOUS ENDOCARDITIS - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Background.-Permanent endocarvitary pacemaker lead infectious endocard itis is rare. Two new cases are reported. Case reports.-The first case appeared in a 63-year-old white woman with a permanent endocavitary p acemaker for 3 years. It was caused by Streprococcus bovis, unique to this pathology, The second case was caused by Streptococcus epidermidi s in a diabetic 72-year-old woman. In these two cases, the clues to th e diagnosis were hemocultures and transesophageal echocardiography. Co nclusion.-These two cases emphasise the importance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for diagnosis and for driving treatment. Treatm ent is based on appropriate antibiotics and pacemaker removal. In the second case, the material was surgically removed under cardiopulmonary bypass because of the size of the infection, (C) 1998, Elsevier, Pari s.