Cardiac implantable electronic device infection due to Mycobacterium species: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Infection of cardiac implantable electronic devices is a serious cardiovascular disease and it is associated with a high mortality. Mycobacterium species may rarely cause cardiac implantable electronic devices infection. CASE PRESENTATION: We are reporting a case of miliary tuberculosis in an Arab patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and a cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator device that was complicated with infection of his cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator device. To our knowledge, this is the third case in the literature with such a presentation and all patients died during the course of treatment. This underscores the importance of early diagnosis and management. We also performed a literature review of reported cases of cardiac implantable electronic devices infection related to Mycobacterium species. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac implantable electronic devices infection due to Mycobacterium species is an uncommon but a well-known entity. Early diagnosis and prompt management may result in a better outcome.