Emerging infectious endocarditis due to Scedosporium prolificans: a model of therapeutic complexity

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011 Nov;30(11):1321-4. doi: 10.1007/s10096-011-1212-3. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Abstract

Scedosporium prolificans is an emerging agent for severe infections. Although among the dematiaceous fungi Scedosporium is the most frequently isolated in blood cultures, Scedosporium endocarditis is rarely reported. We show herein a patient with acute leukaemia who developed S. prolificans endocarditis. Twelve cases were found in an extensive review of the English literature. In six cases (46%), there was predisposing heart conditions such as a prosthetic valve or an intracavitary device. Only 4 patients (31%) were immunocompromised hosts with haematologic neoplasia, solid-organ transplantation or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Exposure to Scedosporium was observed in immunocompetent patients who developed infection while in the community. Scedosporium endocarditis occurred on both sides of the heart. Systemic and pulmonary emboli and other metastatic complications were seen in all of these patients. The overall mortality was 77% and, specifically, all of the immunocompromised hosts and 6 out of 7 patients with mitral or aortic valve endocarditis died. Patients with right-sided endocarditis associated with a removable intracardiac device exhibited a better prognosis. Scedosporium endocarditis, although still rare, is an emerging infection with an ominous prognosis. At the present time, valve replacement or the removal of cardiac devices plus combined antifungal treatment may offer the best possibility of cure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / complications
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / diagnosis
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / microbiology
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / therapy
  • Embolectomy
  • Endocarditis / complications
  • Endocarditis / diagnosis*
  • Endocarditis / microbiology
  • Endocarditis / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Femoral Artery
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Mycoses / complications
  • Mycoses / diagnosis*
  • Mycoses / microbiology
  • Mycoses / therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Prognosis
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Scedosporium / isolation & purification*
  • Thrombosis / complications
  • Thrombosis / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • liposomal amphotericin B
  • Amphotericin B
  • Voriconazole