Massive septic thrombus formation on a superior vena cava indwelling catheter following Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata fungemia.

Abstract

Fungal endocarditis is an exceedingly rare complication of indwelling central venous catheters in adults. Here we describe what appears to be the first case of a right atrial thrombus superinfected with the yeast Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata and attached to an indwelling superior vena cava catheter that was not used for parenteral nutrition. A large vegetation-like mass adherent to the catheter tip was visualized by transesophageal echocardiography in a patient who presented with signs of septic pulmonary embolism. Following open-heart surgery, the definitive diagnosis was established by histopathologic examination of the surgical specimen.