Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>We describe the first reported case, to our knowledge, of disseminated pneumococcal infection involving a left ventricular assist device (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LVAD</jats:styled-content>). The management of this infection was extremely challenging, requiring multiple surgical debridements, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LVAD</jats:styled-content> removal, and prolonged courses of antibiotics. The <jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">S</jats:styled-content>treptococcus pneumoniae</jats:italic> isolate was found to be serotype 19F, which is included in both the pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines. This report highlights the importance of routine screening for up‐to‐date vaccination in patients who undergo <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LVAD</jats:styled-content> implantation.</jats:p>