Candida endocarditis in non-addict patients: a disease with high mortality. a clinico-pathological study of 3 cases
Pastor, E.; Renedo, G.; Fraile, J.; Gadea, I.; Fernández Guerrero, M.L.
Revista Clinica Espanola 194(11): 978-981
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-2565 PMID: 7846356 Document Number: 425405
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.