Aspergillus Endocarditis in Lung Transplant Recipient: Successful Surgical Treatment

Rapid diagnosis of Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis using mNGS assay: A case report and review of the literature

Fungal endocarditis is caused mainly by Candida albicans and Aspergillus spp. and was first reported in the 1950s. Natural-valve endocarditis caused by Aspergillus is relatively uncommon. In this case, a 56-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital on account of a cough accompanied by chills and fever and ineffective self-medication. Infective endocarditis was initially suspected based on echocardiography (indicating right atrial growth) and clinical manifestations. However, routine pathogen detections were always negative. The patient's condition was identified as Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis (AFE) and was treated with targeted therapy, considering the detection of significant AFE sequences in the blood through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). On this basis, the paper further summarizes the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes of AFE endocarditis cases reported in recent years, aiming to provide a reference to better understand this rare infective disease and guide medical practitioners in choosing the right diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.

Native-Valve Aspergillus Endocarditis: Case Report and Literature Review

Aspergillus endocarditis represents the second etiological cause of prosthetic endocarditis following Candida spp. On the other hand, native-valve endocarditis due to Aspergillus are anecdotally reported with increasing numbers in the last decade due to new diagnostic technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on samples like valve tissue or entire blood. We performed a review of the literature presenting one case report observed at Pisa University Hospital. Seventy-four case reports have been included in a period between 1950-2022. Immunocompromised status (patients with solid tumor/oncohematological cancer or transplanted patients) was confirmed to be the main risk factor for this rare opportunistic infection with a high rate of metastatic infection (above all, central nervous system) and mortality. Diagnosis relies on serum galactomannan and culture with PCR on valve tissue or whole blood. Cardiac surgery was revealed to be a life-saving priority as well as appropriate antifungal therapy including b-liposomal amphotericin or new triazoles (isavuconazole). The endocarditis team, facing negative blood culture endocarditis affecting an immunocompromised patient, should investigate this difficult-to-treat pathogen.

A Case Report of Cystic Fibrosis Plus Tuberous Sclerosis: A Cautionary Tale Regarding Lung Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are 2 rare genetic diseases that often affect the lungs. Pulmonary compromise in TSC or CF can be severe enough to require lung transplantation. In rare instances patients with CF undergo pneumonectomy to control recurrent lung infections and lung necrosis affecting one lung more than the other. Lung transplantation in these patients is exceedingly rare because preexistent pneumonectomy increases the risk of lung transplant-associated morbidity and mortality.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a young woman with co-occurrence of TSC and CF, who underwent left-sided pneumonectomy and, approximately 2 years later, right-sided single lung transplant. The posttransplant clinical course was complicated by phrenic nerve injury, ventilator dependency, Aspergillus endocarditis with embolic shower, and death. Pretransplant pneumonectomy, Aspergillus colonization, and posttransplant phrenic nerve injury contributed to the complex postoperative course, ventilatory dependence, and poor outcome.

CONCLUSION

This cautionary case should alert physicians on the challenges associated with single lung transplant in patients with preexistent pneumonectomy.

Fungal endocarditis in transplant recipients: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Invasive fungal infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. Moreover, Fungal Infective Endocarditis (FIE) is a rare infection that carries a higher mortality than bacterial IE in normal host, while in transplant recipients may be even higher. The purpose of this study was to systemically review all published cases of FIE in solid organ and allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients, describe the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of these infections, and to identify risk factors for mortality by FIE.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library (through 20 May 2020) for studies providing epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and treatment data and outcomes of FIE in transplant recipients was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 60 studies, containing data of 72 patients, were included. The most common transplants were those of the kidney and the liver, while the commonest causative pathogen was Aspergillus. Mitral valve was the commonest infected intracardiac site, followed by mural endocardium. Diagnosis was made with transthoracic echocardiography in 44.3%, while the diagnosis was made at autopsy in 37.3%. Embolic phenomena were the commonest clinical presentation, followed by fever, heart failure and endophthalmitis. Amphotericin B, voriconazole and caspofungin were the commonest antifungals used for treatment of FIE. Clinical cure was noted in 26.9%, while overall mortality was 78.6%. Amphotericin B or caspofungin use was negatively associated with overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review thoroughly describes IE in transplant recipients and provides information on epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes.

Potential benefit of combination antifungal therapy in Aspergillus endocarditis

Aspergillus endocarditis (AE) is a rare condition with a mortality rate greater than 60%. While it is generally accepted that both antifungal therapy and surgery are necessary for survival, the optimal antifungal regimen is unclear. A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with AE of a prosthetic aortic valve, complicated by cerebral emboli. He underwent debridement of the aortic valve abscess and valve replacement, and was managed with a combination of liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole for 7 weeks followed by long-term suppressive azole therapy. He remained well at follow-up 18 months later. Data from a review of case reports published between 1950 and 2010 revealed greater survival rates in patients managed with two or more antifungals as opposed to single agent therapy. We provide an updated literature review with similar findings, suggesting that dual agent antifungal therapy should be considered in patients with AE.

Aspergillus flavus native valve endocarditis following combined liver and renal transplantation: Case report and review of the literature

Aspergillus endocarditis is a rare infection that occurs most commonly in patients with prior cardiac surgery but cases in post-transplant recipients without prior cardiac surgery have been reported. Diagnosis is often delayed and requires high index of suspicion. We here report a case of Aspergillus endocarditis in solid organ transplant recipient.