Leukocytosis After ICD Implantation; A Misleading Case of Herpes; Calculating the Risks of C difficile; Keeping Weight Off: A Losing Battle?

Reports and studies have documented a marked rise in infections related to cardiac devices, mostly implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). While ICD use rose by 160% between 1996 and 2003, for instance, the number of ICD-related infections jumped 6-fold, say researchers from University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York; Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland; and Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, who conducted a study to examine the prevalence and clinical significance of postimplantation leukocytosis.