Fungal endocarditis, 1995-2000.
One hundred fifty-two cases of fungal endocarditis (FE) were identified in the English-language literature between January 1, 1995, and June 30, 2000. Although the median age of patients (44 years) was relatively young, injection drug use was identified as a risk factor in only 4.1% of cases. Other factors, including underlying cardiac abnormalities (47.3%), prosthetic valves (44.6%), and central venous catheters (30.4%), were more commonly identified as predisposing conditions and reflect the changing epidemiology of the syndrome. Unfortunately, mortality remains unacceptably high, particularly for patients with Aspergillus-related FE. Novel therapies are needed to improve patient outcomes.
Hospital das Clinicas, University de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Lígia C
LC
Pierrotti
Larry M
LM
Baddour
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality
D000935:Antifungal Agents