Listeria monocytogenes tricuspid valve endocarditis with septic pulmonary emboli in a liver transplant recipient.
Listeria monocytogenes has long been known as a pathogen of immunocompromised hosts, including solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients. Its principal manifestations include bacteremia and meningitis. Endocarditis due to Listeria is far less common and in general affects the left side of the heart. We here report an unusual case of Listeria tricuspid valve endocarditis and septic pulmonary emboli in a sulfa-intolerant liver transplant recipient with a history of relapsing cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis and an indwelling Hickman catheter. The literature on Listeria endocarditis and infections in transplant recipients is reviewed. The possible relationship between susceptibility to Listeria infection and the discontinuation of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis is of interest.
Avery
R K
RK
Department of Infectious Disease and Transplant Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. averyr@ccf.org
Barnes
D S
DS
Teran
J C
JC
Wiedemann
H P
HP
Hall
G
G
Wacker
T
T
Guth
K J
KJ
Frost
J B
JB
Mayes
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014261:Tricuspid Valve
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D000667:Ampicillin; D015774:Ganciclovir