Mycobacterium phlei, a previously unreported cause of pacemaker infection: thinking outside the box in cardiac device infections

Abstract

The increased use of cardiac rhythm management devices has led to an increase in cardiac device-related infections (CDI). Staphylococcus aureus and epidermidis account for the vast majority of CDI. CDI due to rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria is very rare, with only about ten cases having been reported. We report a case of pacemaker pocket infection with Mycobacterium phlei. There are only three published reports of human infection involving this typically non-pathogenic organism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CDI with Mycobacterium phlei.