Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an immunocompromised patient

New Microbiol. 2015 Jan;38(1):113-8. Epub 2015 Jan 1.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Listeria monocytogenes / genetics
  • Listeria monocytogenes / isolation & purification*
  • Meningitis, Listeria / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Listeria / etiology
  • Meningitis, Listeria / immunology
  • Meningitis, Listeria / microbiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents