Bone-destroying candida infection following left ventricular assist device explant

J Artif Organs. 2013 Jun;16(2):258-62. doi: 10.1007/s10047-013-0696-2. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

Abstract

Infections associated with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) constitute an important clinical issue because they are difficult to completely eradicate without removal of the LVAD itself and can sometimes be fatal. We encountered a case of extracorporeal LVAD-related candida infection in a patient who was successfully weaned from LVAD support. Although the patient appeared to have recovered from the infection, the patient was readmitted to our institute due to a relapse of candida infection 9 months after LVAD removal. Although the patient did not demonstrate any systemic sign of infection on admission, computed tomography images clearly showed that the residual apical cuff of the LVAD inflow cannula, which was infected with Candida albicans during the initial admission, resulted in re-infection that involved the chest wall with destruction of the adjacent rib.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biopsy
  • Candidiasis / diagnosis*
  • Candidiasis / therapy
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Device Removal
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography
  • Heart-Assist Devices / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Male
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnosis
  • Osteomyelitis / microbiology*
  • Osteomyelitis / therapy
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / microbiology*
  • Recurrence
  • Ribs / microbiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed