title: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole salvage for refractory listeriosis during maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: A 5-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and intolerance to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) had Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia and meningitis develop during maintenance chemotherapy. Despite prompt administration of IV amoxicillin/gentamicin and microbiologic clearance of the bloodstream, the patient had no response to therapy after a course of 7 days. Intravenous TMP/SMX (10 mg/kg per day of TMP) was added to the antibiotic regimen after desensitization. Fever and meningeal signs rapidly resolved, and the patient was ultimately cured. Amoxicillin and gentamicin, although highly active and synergistic in vitro against L. monocytogenes, have limited intracellular penetration and activity. In contrast, TMP/SMX has bactericidal extracellular and intracellular activity against Listeria and excellent central nervous system penetration, and thus may be effective for the treatment of refractory listeriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wacker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozsahin
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Groll
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervaix
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Humbert
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D010406:Penicillins; D000658:Amoxicillin; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination