Case report: cardiac tamponade secondary to candida pericarditis

Fungal pericarditis, a rare clinical presentation primarily observed in post-cardiothoracic surgery and immunocompromised patients, requires prompt recognition and effective treatment involving antifungal medications and surgical drainage. We report the case of a 40-year-old female initially diagnosed with infective endocarditis who progressed to cardiac tamponade. Timely surgical drainage significantly improved the patient's clinical status and revealed fungal pericarditis through pathological analysis. This case highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis of fungal pericarditis even in the absence of prior cardiothoracic surgical intervention and emphasizes the crucial role of both intravenous antifungal therapy and surgical drainage in its treatment.