title: Listeria infection in patients on anti-TNF treatment: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is an aerobic gram positive intracellular bacillus, predominantly affecting pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and old individuals. Invasive listeriosis, meningitis and meningoencephalitis, bacteraemia with or without joint, eye or heart focalization are clinical manifestations of the disease. Anti-TNF-α drugs blocking the host's response against various microorganisms, particularly intracellular agents like Listeria monocytogenes, increase the risk of disease. We report two cases of L. monocytogenes meningitis in ulcerative colitis patients under infliximab plus steroids. One patient is HIV-1 infected. A review of reported invasive listeriosis cases under anti-TNF drugs is also showed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital S. João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cândida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarmento
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab