title: Aspergillus flavus endocarditis of the native mitral valve in a bone marrow transplant patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infective endocarditis due to Aspergillus species is an uncommon infection with a high mortality rate. It mostly occurs after the implantation of prosthetic heart valves. Parenteral nutrition, immunosuppression, broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens, and illegal intravenous drug use are the risk factors for developing infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of Aspergillus flavus native mitral valve endocarditis in a patient who had allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the past due to myelodysplastic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it is rare and there is limited experience available with the diagnosis and treatment, early recognition and therapeutic intervention with systemic antifungal therapy and aggressive surgical intervention are critical to prevent further complications that may eventually lead to death. In addition, better novel diagnostic tools are needed to facilitate more accurate identification of patients with invasive Aspergillus and to permit earlier initiation of antifungal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beylikduzu Kolan Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kolan International Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Umit
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Ergenoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kolan International Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Kolan International Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nursen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanrikulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beylikduzu Kolan Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mazlum
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kolan International Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demirsoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents