When a patient presents with an infected IPP, do you go straight to explant/salvage reimplantation or explant and wait for completion of antibiotics before delayed replacement?

The answer to this question is nuanced, meaning it depends. If there is the possibility that the infection is superficial, in the wound, a trial of oral antibiotics is reasonable. I would get baseline CBC and CRP; the latter we have found can guide whether deeper infection is going on. If CRP is low...

There is significant surgical variability in how infected cases are managed. I personally do an explant with delayed re-implantation of a device if they elect. I would wait well beyond completion of antibiotics, likely 3 to 6 months before reimplantation. There is data to support the explant or salv...