Insidious postoperative Aspergillus niger graft aortitis

Matteo Marro; Francesco Atzeni; Michele William La Torre; Matteo Attisani; Stefania Belloro; Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa; Mauro Rinaldi

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00823

Insidious postoperative Aspergillus niger graft aortitis

IDCases. 2020 May 16:21:e00823. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00823. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Matteo Marro¹, Francesco Atzeni¹, Michele William La Torre¹, Matteo Attisani¹, Stefania Belloro², Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa², Mauro Rinaldi¹

Affiliations

¹ Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Italy.
² Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Infectious Diseases, Italy.

Abstract

Fungal endocarditis/aortitis is an uncommon yet emerging entity accounting for 2% to 4% of all cases of infective endocarditis and continues to be associated with a poor prognosis. We present the first case of polyethylene-terephthalate (PETE) graft aortitis caused by A. niger, a rare fungal agent. Early diagnosis with frequent transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and a prompt surgical intervention coupled with optimal antifungal therapy are still the only option to reduce the exceedingly high mortality and morbidity.

Keywords: aortitis; aspergillus niger; echocardiography; fungal infection.

Publication types

Case Reports