Staph infection in pacemaker pocket

I posted about a month ago. My son's (22 months old) buldge ended up being a staph infection. Which resulted in extraction of the pacemaker and then a week later the wires, which required open chest to get out. He was in the hospital for almost two weeks. And is home now with a PICC line to get iv antibiotics.

Other than that, he is absoulutly fine. He has never had a fevor or any pain from having an infection. Staph was found in the pocket and in his mediastinum (sp?). He'll be on an oral and iv antibiotics until his CRP # has decreased and then on iv antibiotics for two weeks after that.

It is still kind of scary, But, looking at how healthy he acts is very comfroting.

I NEVER even considered this kind of complication. I wanted to share this with you all.

6 Comments

My son is 22 months old

by clichtenberg - 2008-07-09 11:07:13

Not his buldge :)!!!! To clarify, he is 1 year 10months old.!

No other symptoms

by clichtenberg - 2008-07-10 02:07:16

He didn't have ANY symptoms. I would push on it, to try and figure it out and he was fine with it. It wasn't red he didn't have a fever. Absolutly no other symptoms. I thank GOD, I got scared and took him in. I don't know what else to say.......I hope that helps!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

by candi51 - 2008-07-10 03:07:32

Sending my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery for your son!
Thank God you did take him in!! That "mom gut feeling" thing that just can't be ignored is a powerful thing!
Best wishes!
Candi

Staph Infection

by Pookie - 2008-07-10 12:07:50

So glad to hear that your son is doing well.

Other than the bulge what were his other symptoms as I was thinking other people might run into this problem and would then know what to keep an eye out for.

thanks for sharing.

Pookie

I'm so glad your sons doing well

by Roderick - 2008-07-11 03:07:29

When I was a small child (30+ yrs ago) I had many infections, several resulting in the need to remove the entire system. Back then it took as much as 2.5 months, 2-3 surgeries, and a short time (2 months) with an external system.
Parent observation is crucial. If your son's anything like I was he won't tell you because he won't recognize them as a problem. Candi is absolutely correct "trust your gut". The problem with an infection is it doesn't necessarily result in an operational issue with the pacemaker system, therefore the symptoms are different, yet if left untreated will become very serious very quickly. Monitor the pocket often for the first few months after surgery, report any and all things that appear odd. As I recall all the staff infections I've had developed shortly after surgery.

Good Luck

Thank you!

by clichtenberg - 2008-07-11 11:07:58

Thank you for your comments. Ya, I'm so glad that I took him in. I will watch his incisions. This infection came 16 months after they moved his pacemaker! The only explaination that they can give me is that he may have gotten a cut or something and the infection made a beeline to the pacemaker because it is a foriegn object. Because most infections happen up to 3 months post op.

He is on iv/and oral intibiotics and as of today his blood labs came up back into the normal range. They want to keep him on everything for at least two more weeks to make sure everything is ok. I take him to the cardiologist this upcomming week, I am praying that he won't need the pacemaker ever again.

Thanks again!

Cindy

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