title: Listeria monocytogenes encephalitis: an unusual cause of reversible confusion in a patient with glioblastoma multiforme.
abstract: Confusion frequently occurs in patients with gliomas for a number of reasons. One cause is a superimposed intracerebral infection. The case of a 73-year-old man who deteriorated after debulking of a high-grade glioma is described. However, he was successfully treated for Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) diagnosed from blood cultures. This case highlights the importance for all health care workers to have a low threshold for diagnosing reversible causes of confusion in patients with gliomas - including this particularly rare cause, and not attributing their symptoms to the primary intracranial pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS4 3BW, UK. pratipalsinghkalsi@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Pratipal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalsi
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tizzard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male