Lomentospora prolificans endocarditis--case report and literature review

BMC Infectious Diseases
Melissa KellyPamela Konecny

Abstract

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 endocard...Continue Reading

References

Nov 26, 2008·Medical Mycology·Juan Luis Rodriguez-TudelaManuel Cuenca-Estrella
Apr 2, 2011·European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·M L Fernandez GuerreroA Román
Jan 28, 2014·Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy : Official Journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy·Kenji UnoKeiichi Mikasa
Jan 31, 2014·Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·E SitterléM E Bougnoux
May 6, 2015·The Annals of Pharmacotherapy·Natasha N Pettit, Peggy L Carver
Jun 24, 2015·Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy·Maria N Chitasombat, Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis

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BETA
phylogenetic profiling

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