Prosthetic valve endocarditis by aspergillus terreus manifesting as femoral artery embolism

ABSTRACT: Fungal endocarditis is increasing in recent years. Next to Candida, Aspergillus endocarditis ranks common. We had seen two patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) caused by A. terreus during Oct'93 to Nov'94, both presenting as femoral artery embolism. Diagnosis was made available in 30 min by impression smears and the agents were identified as A. terreus by culture in 48 hours. Blood cultures taken at the time of embolectomy because positive within 4 to 12 days in different media. The etiology of P.V.E and femoral artery embolism by A. terreus was thus established by isolation from emboli and blood cultures in both cases.