Candida krusei pericarditis: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

A 66-year-old female, a known case of endometrial serous carcinoma, presented with a history of poor oral intake. Elevated C-reactive protein was identified, and an echocardiogram showed evidence of large circumferential pericardial fluid with maximum diameter measuring 4.4 cm. Further analysis of the pericardial fluid revealed growth of Candida krusei. Treatment was initiated with caspofungin 150mg intravenously once daily for 28 days, followed by oral maintenance therapy with voriconazole for 10 days. No relapse or re-infection was observed during 10 days of follow-up. A literature search was performed, which demonstrated that Candida albicans is the most encountered Candida spp. associated with acute pericarditis. Additionally, the following risk factors were observed, including history of major surgery, COVID-19 infection, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. This article presents a unique case of acute pericarditis caused by C. krusei. It highlights the importance of identifying the etiology in immunocompromised cohorts and emphasizes the role of establishing formative treatment guidelines for the management of Candida spp. pericarditis.

Keywords: Candida krusei; acute pericarditis; fungal infection; immunosuppressed; treatment.