Cardiac device infections

During the medical consult, the history taken will often give the physician important cluse and raise the clinical suspicion for cardiac device infection. When cardiac device infection is suspected, specialized investigations and imaging techniques can be ordered to help clinch the diagnosis. 

Blood tests are performed to look for signs of infection and to check for bloodstream infections.  Specialised imaging techniques (e.g. ultrasound, computed tomography scan or positive emission (PET-CT))  may sometimes be useful to help physicians evaluate the extent of infection present. Debridement procedures may be subsequently recommended for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Infected tissue / device will be sent to the microbiological lab for cultures.