[Candida endocarditis in non-addict patients: a disease with high mortality. A clinico-pathological study of 3 cases]

Rev Clin Esp. 1994 Nov;194(11):978-81.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Candida endocarditis is a rare infection which occurs under particular epidemiological circumstances, such a drug addiction, immunosuppression, prolonged intravenous therapy and valvular replacement surgery. Diagnosis requires a high suspicious index and is based on the demonstration of the organism in cardiac vegetations, peripheral embolisms or in positive blood-cultures; also when valvular insufficiency murmurs, embolic phenomena and echocardiogram-proved vegetations are present. In spite of antifungal therapy and valvular replacement, the mortality rate in Candida endocarditis is still higher than 80%. Three new cases of the entity are here reported stressing the diagnostic and therapeutical difficulties.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Valve / microbiology
  • Aortic Valve / pathology
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis / microbiology
  • Candidiasis / pathology*
  • Endocarditis / microbiology
  • Endocarditis / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve / microbiology
  • Mitral Valve / pathology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / pathology
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis