Listeriosis--a review of eighty-four cases.
OBJECTIVE
To review the epidemiology, risk factors for acquisition, clinical features and outcomes of Listeria monocytogenes infection in Sydney.


METHODS
A retrospective study over the period 1983-1992 at four university teaching hospitals in Sydney. Cases were identified from microbiology laboratory records of the isolation of L. monocytogenes from sterile sites.


RESULTS
Eighty-four cases were reviewed, with 72 patients (86%) having a predisposing underlying condition, including 13 perinatal patients (15%). Septicaemia (56%) and central nervous system disease (41%) were the major clinical presentations. Nineteen patients (23%) had hospital-associated infection. A mortality of 21% (18 patients) was directly attributable to L. monocytogenes infection, with another 10% (nine patients) dying of their underlying disease during admission. The 84 cases represented 80% of all L. monocytogenes cases occurring in Sydney during the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
Listeriosis is predominantly a disease of the elderly or of immunosuppressed individuals, pregnant women and neonates. The presentation and outcome in these groups are similar to those reported in other Western countries. A significant feature of this study was the number of cases occurring in already hospitalised patients, suggesting that L. monocytogenes may be an important hospital-associated pathogen in immunocompromised patients.
Paul
M L
ML
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW.
Dwyer
D E
DE
Chow
C
C
Robson
J
J
Chambers
I
I
Eagles
G
G
Ackerman
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015984:Causality; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents