Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases
Open Access

Abstract

Huge Recurrent Fungal (Candida parapsilosis) Aortic Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis in a Patient with Intravenous Drug Abuse

Laura Gansera, Oliver Deutsch, Kristina Riedel and Brigitte Gansera

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a frequent complication of valve replacement surgery, accounting for 9.5-15% of all endocarditis cases. Fungi cause a small proportion of PVE and contribute to 4-6% of all etiology. Fungal PVE in drug addicts is a rare, but challenging and disastrous disease. We describe the case of a 49-year old patient with intravenous heroin abuse, Hepatitis C and HIV infection, suffering from extreme fungal aortic PVE caused by Candida parapsilosis five month after valve replacement due to endocarditis caused by Enterococcus faecalis. Predisposed patients under immunosuppression might benefit from aggressive endocarditis prophylaxis to avoid PVE.