Caspofungin-resistant Aspergillus flavus after heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support: a case report

Transpl Infect Dis. 2008 Jun;10(3):190-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2007.00252.x. Epub 2007 Jul 1.

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe complication in the post-transplant period in recipients of solid organs. Therefore, early diagnosis and specific therapy of fungal infections in these patients are indispensable. We report the case of a 49-year-old patient, who suffered from IA after cardiac transplantation, which was complicated by post-transplant right heart failure requiring mechanical circulatory support using veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and a right ventricular assist device. Despite antifungal treatment, the patient died 3 weeks after transplantation because of multi-organ failure secondary to IA. The isolated Aspergillus strains exhibited in vitro resistance to caspofungin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy
  • Aspergillosis / etiology*
  • Aspergillus flavus / drug effects*
  • Caspofungin
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Echinocandins / pharmacology*
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation*
  • Female
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Echinocandins
  • Lipopeptides
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Caspofungin
  • Voriconazole