Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Candida lusitaniae, an uncommon pathogen: a case report

INTRODUCTION Candida lusitaniae was originally described as a human pathogen in 1979 and typically affects immunocompromised patients. CASE PRESENTATION We describe a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis with Candida lusitaniae in an immunocompetent 62-year-old woman following aortic valve replacement. In vitro testing demonstrated that our isolate was sensitive to amphotericin B, caspofungin and fluconazole. CONCLUSION The infection was lethal despite aggressive medical and surgical management and sterilization of blood cultures. The outcome of our case illustrates the need to recognize Candida lusitaniae fungemia as a life-threatening infection in a patient with a prosthetic aortic valve.