Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by <it>Candida lusitaniae,</it> an uncommon pathogen: a case report

• Main Authors: Michel Ross G, Kinasewitz Gary T, Drevets Douglas A, Levin Jeremy H, Warden Douglas W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2009-05-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/3/1/7611

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p><it>Candida lusitaniae</it> was originally described as a human pathogen in 1979 and typically affects immunocompromised patients.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis with <it>Candida lusitaniae</it> in an immunocompetent 62-year-old woman following aortic valve replacement. <it>In vitro</it> testing demonstrated that our isolate was sensitive to amphotericin B, caspofungin and fluconazole.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The infection was lethal despite aggressive medical and surgical management and sterilization of blood cultures. The outcome of our case illustrates the need to recognize <it>Candida lusitaniae</it> fungemia as a life-threatening infection in a patient with a prosthetic aortic valve.</p>