Late post-operative Aspergillus flavus endocarditis: Demonstration of a six years incubation period using...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Medical Mycology

Background:

• Late post-operative Aspergillus endocarditis is a rare but life-threatening complication following heart valvular surgery.
• Enhanced awareness is crucial for effective prevention and timely treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report cases of late post-operative Aspergillus flavus endocarditis.
• To investigate the source of infection, including a prolonged incubation period.
• To emphasize the importance of hospital environment surveillance.

Main Methods:

• Case series reporting three patients with late post-operative Aspergillus flavus endocarditis.
• Microsatellite typing used to analyze fungal isolates.
• Investigation into potential hospital environment contamination sources.

Main Results:

• Three cases of late post-operative Aspergillus endocarditis were identified.
• One case presented with a significant 6-year incubation period.
• Microsatellite typing identified recurrent contamination within the hospital environment as the likely source.

Conclusions:

• Late post-operative Aspergillus endocarditis is an under-recognized threat.
• Hospital environment contamination can lead to prolonged incubation periods.
• Vigilance and environmental monitoring are essential for preventing and managing these infections.