[First report of infectious endocarditis due to Histoplasma capsulatum in Mexico].

BACKGROUND

Infectious endocarditis of fungal origin is rare but of high mortality. The agents involved are mainly opportunists of the genus Candida and Aspergillus; however other fungi can also cause this disease.

CLINICAL CASE: The case of a woman who suffered unknown origin intermittent fever for several months; and in who, by blood culture (after lysis-centrifugation) and molecular biology techniques, Histoplasma capsulatum was identified as etiological agent. The histological study showed abundant intracellular yeasts and hyphae in intracardiac vegetations.

CONCLUSION

This first report of infectious endocarditis by H. capsulatum in Mexico highlights the importance of using in addition to manual blood culture (lysis-centrifugation) and histological study, faster and more sensitive diagnostic methods, such as serology and molecular biology, to confirm or rule out an invasive fungal infection and identify the agents.