Postoperative fungal endocarditis. Fungemia, embolism, and therapy
Harford, C.G.
Archives of Internal Medicine 134(1): 116-120
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9926 PMID: 4600683 Document Number: 79570
The cases of 4 men (51 to 65 yr old) with postoperative fungal endocarditis and a review of the literature are presented. Cultures of blood were negative in 50%, despite the fact that emboli occur and that Aspergillus flavus, Candida parapsilosis, C. albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from the 4 men, could grow in simple media. In the absence of fungaemia, diagnosis has been made by section and culture of emboli. Therapy with amphotericin B has been unsucccessful in 93% of cases. A few patients recover after reoperation, but further studies are necessary to demonstrate the value of surgical therapy.