Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an immunocompromised patient.
This report describes a case of meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a stem cell transplant recipient on immunosuppressive therapy for cutaneous chronic graft-versus host disease. A 59-year-old woman had undergone allogeneic stem cell transplantation (from a matched unrelated donor) 13 months previously for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She was on regular hematologic follow-up. Though her previous malignancy has been in remission, she was immunosuppressed due to the pharmacological treatment. We describe a meningitis caused by a typical food-borne pathogen, dangerous in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity. Moreover the bacterium had a multidrug resistance, a rare characteristic in clinical listeriosis. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are key factors in these cases. We chose ampicillin and rifampicin that allowed a complete resolution of the clinical manifestations.
ASUR Marche AV2, O.U. Clinical Pathology, Senigallia (AN), Italy.
Simone
S
Barocci
Alessio
A
Mancini
Benedetta
B
Canovari
Enzo
E
Petrelli
Emanuela
E
Sbriscia-Fioretti
Alberto
A
Licci
Simona
S
D'Addesa
Giancarlo
G
Petrini
Marinella
M
Giacomini
Antonella
A
Renzi
Antonio
A
Migali
Sara
S
Briscolini
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents