Fatal fungal endarteritis caused by Bipolaris spicifera following replacement of the aortic valve.
A 73-year-old man presented to our hospital 5 months after a porcine replacement of an aortic valve with persistent fevers, meningoencephalopathy, and progressive renal failure; evidence of systemic emboli was found subsequently. The results of an exhaustive evaluation were negative except for two of 23 blood cultures that were performed; each of these two cultures yielded one colony of Drechslera species (now known as Bipolaris) on one plate. Autopsy revealed a fungal vegetation (9.5 x 3.2 x 3.0 cm) in the ascending aorta that arose from suture material 1.0 cm distal to the aortic valve. Mycologic evaluation of the isolate revealed that it was Bipolaris spicifera.
Ogden
P E
PE
Scott & White Clinic, Temple, Texas 76508.
Hurley
D L
DL
Cain
P T
PT
D000368:Aged; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004692:Endarteritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000382:microbiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology*