Fungal Endocarditis: Update on Diagnosis and Management.
Fungal endocarditis is an extremely debilitating disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Candida spp. are the most common isolated organisms in fungal endocarditis. It is most prevalent in patients who are immunosuppressed and intravenous drug users. Most patients present with constitutional symptoms, which are indistinguishable from bacterial endocarditis, hence a high index of suspicion is required for pursuing diagnosis. Diagnosis of fungal endocarditis can be very challenging: most of the time, blood cultures are negative or take a long time to yield growth. Fungal endocarditis mandates an aggressive treatment strategy. A medical and surgical combined approach is the cornerstone of therapy.
Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Ahmed Khurshid
AK
Pasha
Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Justin Z
JZ
Lee
Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
See-Wei
SW
Low
Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Hem
H
Desai
Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Kwan S
KS
Lee
Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson. Electronic address: malmohajer@email.arizona.edu.
Mayar
M
Al Mohajer
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D020878:Device Removal; D004452:Echocardiography; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents
Aspergillus; Candida; Emboli; Endocarditis; Fungal