Lomentospora prolificans endocarditis--case report and literature review

Lomentospora prolificans (formally Scedosporium prolificans) is an environmental mould with a global distribution. Endocarditis caused by L. prolificans is a rare but serious emerging disease in immunocompromised patients. Prior to this case there have only been eight cases reported in the literature. Diagnosis can be challenging and there are no evidence-based guidelines for treatment.

We report a 75-year-old woman with ovarian carcinoma who presented with fever after chemotherapy. Repeated sterile site cultures remained negative until day 22 of admission, when Lomentospora prolificans was isolated from blood cultures. Following extensive investigations, including Fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and transoephageal echocardiography (TOE), the patient was diagnosed with endocarditis complicated by cerebral emboli. The patient was considered unsuitable for surgical intervention and passed away five days after the fungus was isolated.

Endocarditis caused by Lomentospora prolificans is a rare but emerging condition, with limited treatment options and a high mortality. Awareness of the increasing incidence of Lomentospora prolificans infection, diagnosed often at an advanced stage, with potential for endocarditis may prompt earlier echocardiography or FDG-PET imaging. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal combination and duration of anti-fungal agents, used in conjunction with aggressive surgical excision where feasible.