{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:20:33Z","timestamp":1760059233709,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,31]],"date-time":"2025-05-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748649600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Cryptococcus species constitute opportunistic fungi that seldom cause infections in individuals with competent immune systems. In the rare case of cryptococcal endocarditis, the fungus infiltrates the endocardium. This disease occurs almost exclusively in patients with active immunosuppression, implanted cardiac devices, or prosthetic valves. Objectives: This study aims to analyze all documented cases of Cryptococcus spp. endocarditis in humans, emphasizing the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical manifestations, therapeutic approaches, and infection outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive review was performed by searching the PubMed and Scopus databases. Results: A total of 16 studies reported data on 16 patients diagnosed with cryptococcal endocarditis. The mean patient age was 46.6 years, with males comprising 81.25% of cases. Immunosuppression was the most prevalent predisposing factor (31.25%), followed by a history of end-stage renal disease and prosthetic cardiac valves (25%). The most commonly affected intracardiac sites were the mitral (60%) and aortic valve (46.6%), while in 33.3% of cases, multiple-valve infection was observed. Cryptococcus neoformans was detected as the causative organism in the majority of cases (87.5%). The most frequently administered antifungal treatments included amphotericin B (87.5%) and fluconazole (43.75%), with combination therapy used in 62.5% of cases. Overall mortality was relatively high at 56.25%, with 50% of deaths directly attributed to the infection. Conclusions: Considering the ability of Cryptococcus spp. to induce severe systemic infections, healthcare providers should consider this pathogen in the differential diagnosis when yeast microorganisms are identified in microbiological samples. This is particularly crucial for patients with underlying comorbidities or immunodeficiency, as early recognition is crucial to ensure precise diagnosis and treatment.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens14060547","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]],"date-time":"2025-06-02T11:40:32Z","timestamp":1748864432000},"page":"547","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Cryptococcal Endocarditis in Humans\u2014A Narrative Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1082-5674","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Petros","family":"Ioannou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-5853-5522","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Afroditi","family":"Ziogou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, 18537 Piraeus, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alexios","family":"Giannakodimos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiology, Tzaneio General Hospital of Piraeus, 18537 Piraeus, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2267-8464","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ilias","family":"Giannakodimos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology, Attikon General Hospital of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3695-0759","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreas G.","family":"Tsantes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Hematology and Blood Bank Unit, \u201cAttikon\u201d University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece"},{"name":"Microbiology Department, \u201cSaint Savvas\u201d Oncology Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Samonis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece"},{"name":"First Oncology Department, Metropolitan Hospital, Neon Faliron, 18547 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thipmontree, W., Lerssuttipon, U., Chunharas, P., Kajeekul, R., Lewrod, A., Yongkiettrakul, S., and Kerdsin, A. 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