Mobile phones and cardiac pacemakers

There is a growing body of evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies that mobile phones may cause electromagnetic interference with implanted cardiac pacemakers. Pacemaker-dependent patients without an appreciable underlying rhythm are at greatest risk from these effects. There is, however, an overwhelming lack of knowledge about this subject among physicians, partly because of the rarity of publications on this subject in medical journals. In this article we present a summary of available literature on such interactions and try to reach general recommendations

Gemella morbillorum endocarditis

A case of Gemella morbillorum [G.morbillorum] endocarditis of the mitral valve in a patient with previously normal heart valves is reported. The presentation was subacute, and the infection was complicated by perforation of the posterior mitral leaflet that necessitated valve repair. Gemella morbillorum infections are uncommon, and endocarditis is the most common presentation. G.morbillorum endocarditis is probably under recognized, and has not been reported from our region. The case is described, and problems in the identification of the organism are discussed