Antimicrobial Strategy for Device Implantation

Infections associated with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) represent one of the major postoperative complications in interventional cardiology. These infections-including lead-related endocarditis, subcutaneous pocket infections, and sepsis-are characterized by high rates of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. According to current epidemiological data, the incidence of CIED-related infections is estimated to be around 0.5-2% within the first 12 months and may rise to 5% over long-term follow-up. These infections are associated with a mortality rate of up to 34% and often require device explantation and prolonged antibiotic therapy.

TauroPace™ is an antimicrobial solution based on taurolidine, a broad-spectrum, non-antibiotic agent that acts by disrupting bacterial biofilms and preventing microbial colonization. Taurolidine has a favorable safety profile, does not induce antibiotic resistance, and is already approved in Europe as a CE-marked medical device (Directive 93/42/EEC). The application of TauroPace™ to the surface of CIEDs prior to implantation may significantly reduce the incidence of infections compared to the current standard, which consists of irrigating the device pocket with sterile saline solution.

The aim of this study is to rigorously and systematically evaluate the effectiveness of TauroPace™ compared to standard clinical practice.