Candida endocarditis with mycotic pulmonary emboli following re-do Rastelli operation.

Abstract

A case of a 19 year old patient with Candida endocarditis complicated by pulmonary infarction and pulmonary mycotic abscesses following replacement of a right ventricle to pulmonary artery homograft conduit is presented. Despite preceding hospital admissions with probable septic pulmonary emboli, diagnosis was made only after massive pulmonary haemorrhage that ultimately proved fatal. This case highlights that Candida endocarditis should be considered in patients with symptoms and signs compatible with bacterial endocarditis when blood cultures are negative, especially in the setting of congenital cardiac malformations, and illustrates the high mortality associated with delayed diagnosis.