No. 7 Medical Innovation for 2020: Antibiotic Envelope for Cardiac Implantable Devices

When patients receive a cardiac implantable electronic device, great care is taken to prevent infection with sterile techniques and pre-procedure intravenous antibiotics. Still, infection remains a potentially life-threatening complication in some patients.

In 2013, the FDA approved an absorbable antibacterial mesh envelope to encase implanted devices and help prevent infection. In 2019, results of an international randomized controlled trial showed that the envelope reduced incidence of infection by 40%, compared to standard-of-care infection prevention alone.

In this video, learn more about why this antibiotic envelope is one of Cleveland Clinic’s Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2020.