Infections Associated With Resterilized Pacemakers and Defibrillators

Access to pacemakers and defibrillators is problematic in places with limited resources. A multinational program was initiated in 1983 to provide tested and resterilized pacemakers and defibrillators to underserved nations; a prospective registry was established in 2003. The incidence of infection or device-related death at two years was 2.0%, an incidence that did not differ significantly from that seen among matched control patients with new devices in Canada.