[Diarrhoea and fever in chemotherapy patients due to listeriosis].
We present two patients with colorectal carcinoma who were admitted with fever and diarrhoea during treatment with chemotherapy. Blood cultures taken from both patients revealed an infection with Listeria monocytogenes. A contaminated ice cream was probably the source of infection in one patient. The other patient died of the listeriosis. Patients with diminished cellular immunity are at risk of invasive listeriosis. Listeriosis has a high mortality rate in this group of patients. Intravenous penicillin or ampicillin for 4 to 6 weeks is the first choice of antibiotic treatment. These antibiotics can be combined with an aminoglycoside or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for a synergistic effect. To prevent invasive listeriosis we recommend strict dietary advice to all patients with diminished cellular immunity.
Quak
Elske
E
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, afdeling Medische Oncologie, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
van Laarhoven
Hanneke W M
HW
Bos
Henk
H
Bouwhuis
Jolande W
JW
van Herpen
Carla M L
CM
van der Graaf
Winette T A
WT
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007054:Ice Cream / Q000382:microbiology*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents