Candida parapsilosis prosthetic valve endocarditis

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Mycology

Background:

• Candida endocarditis is a rare but serious fungal infection with significant mortality and morbidity.
• Optimal treatment duration for Candida endocarditis remains a subject of clinical debate.
• This condition can manifest with unusual presentations, such as peripheral ischemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis presenting as lower limb ischemia.
• To describe the treatment strategy, including surgical intervention and antifungal therapy.
• To discuss the management and outcome of a complex Candida endocarditis case.

Main Methods:

• Surgical aortic valve replacement using a cryopreserved homograft.
• Initial treatment with high-dose intravenous fluconazole (800 mg).
• Extended oral fluconazole therapy (400 mg daily for 12 months).

Main Results:

• Successful surgical management of the infected aortic valve.
• Resolution of lower limb ischemia following treatment.
• Positive patient outcome after a 12-month course of fluconazole therapy.

Conclusions:

• Surgical intervention combined with prolonged antifungal therapy can be effective for Candida endocarditis.
• A 12-month course of fluconazole may be a viable option for managing Candida endocarditis.
• This case demonstrates a successful approach to a rare presentation of fungal endocarditis.