Surgical and long-term antifungal therapy for fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis.
BACKGROUND
Fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis is an uncommon but serious disease. We have developed a strategy of treatment that includes perioperative amphotericin B, radical debridement of infected tissue, reconstruction using biologic tissue when possible, and prolonged oral suppressive antifungal therapy.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 12 patients reoperated on for fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis involving the aortic valve (10 patients: six porcine valves, two mechanical valves, two homografts) and the mitral valve (2 patients, both porcine valves). Prosthetic valve endocarditis developed in 7 within 12 months after the first valve procedure. The organisms included Candida species (9 patients), Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (1), Saccharomyces cervisiae (1), and histoplasmosis (1).


RESULTS
At operation, all patients had prosthetic vegetations, 8 had abscesses, and 4 had sinus tracts. Seven received aortic homografts, 4 received porcine valves (two mitral), and 1 received a mechanical prosthesis. Two patients died in the hospital after prolonged illnesses (83% hospital survival). Four patients had recurrence an average of 25 months later and 3 underwent further surgical intervention. One patient had recurrence and died 17 months postoperatively. One other late death occurred 96 months after operation, and there was no evidence of recurrence. Eight patients (67%) are alive and well 51.5 +/- 61.0 months (range, 1 to 189 months) after the first redo procedure for fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that preoperative treatment with amphotericin B, radical resection of all infected tissue, cardiac reconstruction using biologic tissue when possible, and life-long oral antifungal therapy is effective for fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis.
Muehrcke
D D
DD
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Lytle
B W
BW
Cosgrove
D M
DM
D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects
D000935:Antifungal Agents