Early fungal endocarditis in homograft recipients

Retrospective analysis of 200 homograft valve recipients at our institution revealed two cases of fungal endocarditis. Pathogenesis appears to be rela ted to either recipient seeding in one elderly immunocompromised patient or a previously contaminated donor valve implanted in an otherwise healthy re cipient. Therefore, our experience underscores the need for both meticulous prevention of fungal infection preoperatively in the recipient and elimina tion of previously contaminated homograft valves from the donor pool. (C) 1 999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.