Candida parapsilosis Endocarditis

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Abstract
ENDOCARDITIS due to bacterial and fungal pathogens is a special problem in the addict population, with more than 20% of fungal endocarditis being associated with drug addiction.1It has been postulated that intravenous (IV) injections of adulterated substances, such as illicit heroin, can cause fibrotic changes in cardiac valves predisposing to subsequent microbial endocarditis; however, the source of the pathogen has not been elucidated in these infections.2We report here a case ofCandida parapsilosisendocarditis in which the infecting organism was cultured from the patient's injection paraphernalia. Report of a Case A 24-year-old male drug addict was admitted with a one-week history of fever, weakness, fatigue, and arthralgias. He gave a history of heroin addiction for eight years, and he had hadStaphylococcus aureusendocarditis requiring aortic valve replacement five years before this admission. On five occasions during the preceding three months, and most recently two weeks

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