A fatal Candida albicans pericarditis presenting with cardiac tamponade after COVID-19 infection and cardiothoracic surgery.
J Clin Lab Anal
; 37(19-20): e24968, 2023 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37803881
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Candida pericardial infection is a rare clinical entity usually related to recent cardiothoracic surgery and chronic debilitating conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, invasive fungal infections have been on the rise, likely due to a combination of factors such as immunosuppression, underlying conditions like diabetes, and surgical procedures. CASE PRESENTATION Herein, we report a 67-year-old diabetic woman with a history of COVID-19 infection who received a high dose of corticosteroids a few months before admission, and previous myocardial infarction for more than 12 years. The patient had a positive cardiac tamponade with signs of dyspnea, chest pain, and low blood pressure. Echocardiographic data were more in favor of constrictive pericarditis. The patient underwent urgent echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis and then broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment was prescribed. Repeated echocardiography implied a persistent pericardial effusion 10 days later. Subxiphoid aspirates and biopsied tissues showed budding yeast cells and yeast colonies grew on culture media identified as Candida albicans.CONCLUSION:
This report should bring to the attention of physicians toward the possibility of Candida pericardial infection presenting with cardiac tamponade after COVID-19 infection and cardiothoracic surgery. Echocardiographic assessment, prompt pericardiotomy, molecular-based identification of causative agent, and early administration of appropriate antifungal treatment should improve the patient's survival.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pericardite
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Candidíase
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Tamponamento Cardíaco
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COVID-19
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article