title: A rare case of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis in a young healthy woman--case report.
abstract: Disseminated fungal infections are still rare conditions, mostly caused by Candida spp. during immunosuppression. Infection of immunocompetent individuals is uncommon. Endocarditis is a rare manifestation during candidaemia, mostly in patients with prosthetic valves. Affection of previously unaltered valves is uncommon.
  
  
  METHODS
  We presented a case of a young, previously healthy female patient with endocarditis, caused by Candida parapsilosis. The initial symptom, fever, was present four months before hospital admittance. She was febrile without other symptoms and during observation in a local hospital. After her condition deteriorated, she was transferred to the Institute for infectious and tropical diseases, Belgrade. Clinical findings on admission include petechial skin rash and moderate hepatosplenomegaly. Newly developed systolic murmur was noted, and Candida parapsilosis was isolated in multiple blood cultures. Echocardiography revealed 15 × 14 mm vegetations on the right aortic vellum. She was treated with antifungal drugs (fluconasole, liposomal amphotericin B), and the affected valve was successfully replaced. The same strain of Candida parapsilosis was isolated from the intraoperative material of the valve. There were no markers of immunosuppression or other conditions which could affect the immune system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After a prolonged period of treatment she was successfully cured, and she received a long-term intermittent suppressive fluconasole therapy for the time being.
authors: Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Mijomir
authors: M
authors: Pelemiš
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Stevanović
authors: Lidija
authors: L
authors: Lavadinović
authors: Snežana
authors: S
authors: Matić
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Milošević
authors: Miloš
authors: M
authors: Korać
authors: Svetislav
authors: S
authors: Pelemiš
authors: Milan
authors: M
authors: Nedeljković
authors: Milica
authors: M
authors: Prostran
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents