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Cochlear Implant Infections

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Infections of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

Abstract

Cochlear implants are the gold-standard treatment for profound sensorineural hearing loss. Cochlear implants are associated with a 1.7–4.1% risk of infection, with most infections occurring >30 days postoperatively and many occurring months to years later. Infections include surgical site infection, infection of the device itself, otitis media, mastoiditis, cochlear infection, and meningitis. Preoperative vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae is recommended to reduce the risk of post-implant pneumococcal meningitis. Special considerations must be taken when planning cochlear implant surgery in patients with recurrent or chronic middle ear disease to reduce the otherwise increased risk of postoperative infection in these patients. This chapter reviews the various types of cochlear implant-related infections along with their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Jessica Ky-Lee Choong & Stephen John O’Leary

  2. Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Stephen John O’Leary

Authors
  1. Jessica Ky-Lee Choong
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  2. Stephen John O’Leary
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen John O’Leary .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Marlene L. Durand

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Daniel G. Deschler

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Choong, J.KL., O’Leary, S.J. (2018). Cochlear Implant Infections. In: Durand, M., Deschler, D. (eds) Infections of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74835-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74835-1_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74834-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74835-1

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