Echocardiographic diagnosis of Candida endocarditis of the tricuspid valve and of the right atrium in a young infant

Fungal Endocarditis in Neonates: A Review of Seventy-one Cases (1971-2013)

BACKGROUND

Fungal endocarditis (FE) remains an uncommon but life-threatening complication of invasive fungal infections. As data on neonatal FE are scant, we aimed to review all published experience regarding this serious infection.

METHODS

Neonatal FE cases published in PubMed (1971-2013) as single cases, or case series were identified using the terms "fungal endocarditis, neonates and cardiac vegetation." Data on predefined criteria including demographics, predisposing factors, mycology, sites of cardiac involvement, therapy and outcome were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The dataset comprised 71 neonates with FE. Median birth weight was 940 g [interquartile range (IQR): 609], median gestational age 27 weeks (IQR: 6) and median postnatal age at diagnosis 20 days (IQR: 20). Ninety-two percent of the patients were premature. Right atrium was the most common vegetation site (63%). Seventy-one percent of the cases reported were associated with previous central venous catheters. Candida albicans was the most predominant fungal species (59%). Amphotericin B monotherapy was used in 42.2% and fluconazole in 2.8%. Amphotericin B with flucytosine (25.3%) was the most frequent combined regimen. Surgical treatment was conducted in 28%. Overall mortality was 42.2%. Initiation with combined antifungal treatment was associated with lower mortality than monotherapy (24.2% vs. 51.7%, respectively, P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal FE most frequently occurs in very premature infants and is associated with central venous catheters. C. albicans is the predominant fungus. Although outcome has been dismal, it may be improved with combined antifungal therapy.

Tricuspid valve mycetoma in an infant successfully treated by excision and complex tricuspid valve repair followed by fluconazole therapy

BACKGROUND

Fungal valve endocarditis in children is an uncommon and lethal disease. The risk increases with use of central venous catheters (CVC), total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics during the neonatal period. Due to high mortality, a combination of surgery and antifungal therapy is usually recommended for treatment.

METHODS

Case report and review of the literature.

RESULTS

We present a case of an asymptomatic infant with multiple Candida tricuspid valve mycetomas. Complete cure was achieved by combined tricuspid valve repair and fluconazole therapy. We also review 26 cases of tricuspid valve Candida endocarditis in children published in the literature.

CONCLUSION

From being uniformly fatal five decades ago to a current survival rate of 64% to 100%, the prognosis of Candida endocarditis has changed dramatically with the use of antifungal therapy alone or in combination with surgery. Our case re-emphasizes the role of valve-sparing debridement with repair of the native valve using autologous pericardium in combination with long-term antifungal therapy as a feasible option in managing tricuspid valve Candida endocarditis.

Candidaendocarditis in neonates: report of five cases and review of the literature

Candidal endocarditis is an uncommon and serious complication of invasive Candida infection in neonates. The aim of this study was to further characterise candidal endocarditis in neonates. Between 1995 and 2000, 56 patients were diagnosed with Candida bloodstream infections (CBSI) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel. Five of them (9%) developed mycetoma of the right atrium. None of the patients had congenital heart disease or a central venous catheter in the right heart at the time of diagnosis. All were treated with amphotericin B alone or in combination with other antifungals, without surgical intervention. One patient died of the disease and one died later of polymicrobial sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. A review of the literature since 1980 yielded an additional 25 cases of candidal endocarditis. For the whole sample (n = 30) survival rate was 73.1%. Six of the 10 patients treated with antifungal agents and surgery survived (60%), compared with 13 of the 20 patients treated only medically (65%) (P = 1.0). Candida endocarditis in neonates differs from fungal endocarditis in adults in risk factors, clinical presentation and outcome. As the outcome of surgical and medical treatment are comparable, antifungal therapy alone may be a valid therapeutic option in high-risk cases.

Fungal endocarditis in neonates and children

Fungal endocarditis in the neonate and pediatric population is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality, with diagnosis in the majority of cases made postmortem. The aim of this article is to review published literature on fungal endocarditis in children and to discuss the incidence due to a wide range of fungi, primarily Aspergillus and Candida species, as well as its diagnosis, including the importance of molecular-based approaches and various treatment regimes.

Intravenous indomethacin therapy in preterm neonates with patent ductus arteriosus

This study examined the response of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) to intravenous Indomethacin using serial two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography and documented the complications associated with therapy. Thirty-six preterm neonates who were oxygen and ventilator dependent were studied when they were aged 3-7 days. The PDA initially closed in 22 (61%) and constricted in seven (19%) of the infants. It was non-responsive in five (14%) and the treatment was stopped because of complications in two (6%). Only three (43%) of seven neonates given a second course had PDA closure. In the 25 instances where there was PDA closure following Indomethacin, re-opening was documented echocardiographically on three (12%) occasions. Overall, Indomethacin therapy was successful in 29 (81%) neonates, PDA ligation was required in four (11%) and three died from unrelated causes. Three (8%) neonates developed major complications: multiple gastric perforations in the first, focal ileal perforation in the second, and necrotizing enterocolitis in the third. Treatment failure, PDA ligation and major complications occurred exclusively in neonates less than 28 weeks gestation. In view of the relatively low efficacy and high major complication rate in these extremely preterm infants, a randomized clinical trial needs to be conducted using two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography to allow accurate assessment of the PDA response to intravenous Indomethacin.

Infective endocarditis in Swedish children. II. Location, major complications, laboratory findings, delay of treatment, treatment and outcome

66 cases of infective endocarditis (IE) during 1971-1980 were studied. The infection was in most cases located to the mitral or aortic valve. Major complications were found in 43 children. In 17 children there was a long history of infection for which medical consultation had previously been sought prior to correct diagnosis. Antibiotics were administered to 60 children, in 58 intravenously while 2 received oral therapy only. Acute surgical intervention was necessary in six children and three of these children died. In all, 15 (23%) children died as a consequence of the infection.

Echocardiographic evaluation of infective endocarditis in children

To determine the incidence and prognostic importance of the echocardiographic abnormalities associated with infective endocarditis, we reviewed these findings in 45 episodes occurring in 41 children and young adults. Thirty-three patients had congenital cardiac abnormalities, and eight patients had no previously known heart disease. Echocardiographic abnormalities were detected in 16 of the 45 episodes of endocarditis (36%). M-mode echocardiography revealed abnormalities in seven of the 35 episodes (20%) in which it was performed, and two-dimensional echocardiography revealed abnormalities in 16 of the 28 episodes (59%) in which it was used. The presence of echocardiographic abnormalities was unrelated to the causative organism and to the need for early operation.