Authors

• Mutaz Althobaiti, Adult Cardiology, King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center (KACC), Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFollow
• Abdulrahman Alqahtani, Departement of Cardiology, Taif health cluster, Taif, Saudi Arabia
• Faisal Alanazi, Adult Cardiology, King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center (KACC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Mohammad S. Alotaibi, Adult Cardiology, King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center (KACC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Ibrahim Bahabri, King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Shikah Alsuwaid, King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Turki Almutairi, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Fawaz Almutairi, Adult Cardiology, King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center (KACC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Candida albicans Purulent Pericarditis Complicated by Cardiac Tamponade in a Critically Ill Burn Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Candida pericarditis is a rare, life-threatening complication of invasive candidiasis, associated with high mortality.

We report this case of a young woman with 60% body surface area burn, multidrug-resistant polymicrobial sepsis, and multiorgan failure who developed Candida albicans pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade. Despite urgent pericardiocentesis and escalation of antifungal therapy, she ultimately progressed to refractory shock and multiorgan failure.

This case illustrates the diagnostic challenge and therapeutic limitations of fungal pericarditis in critically ill host, and underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in burn patients with multisite Candida colonization and prolonged antibiotic exposure.

Recommended Citation

Althobaiti, Mutaz; Alqahtani, Abdulrahman; Alanazi, Faisal; Alotaibi, Mohammad S.; Bahabri, Ibrahim; Alsuwaid, Shikah; Almutairi, Turki; and Almutairi, Fawaz (2026) "Candida albicans Purulent Pericarditis Complicated by Cardiac Tamponade in a Critically Ill Burn Patient: A Case Report," Journal of the Saudi Heart Association: Vol. 38 : Iss. 3 , Article 2.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.37616/2212-5043.1515

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