Development of listeriosis during vancomycin therapy in a neutropenic patient

Scand J Infect Dis. 1996;28(4):415-6. doi: 10.3109/00365549609037930.

Abstract

Vancomycin and aminoglycosides are widely used for fever in neutropenic patients. This combination of antibiotics has also been proposed for the treatment of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia. We report a case of fatal listeriosis in a 33-year-old man during acute lymphoblastic leukemia induction therapy in a total protective environment despite him having been on vancomycin for 8 days for treatment of staphylococcus bacteremia. Vancomycin and aminoglycoside cannot be proposed for the treatment of L. monocytogenes bacteria in neutropenic patients. Neutropenia might be a risk factor for listeriosis in cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Listeriosis / drug therapy
  • Listeriosis / etiology*
  • Male
  • Neutropenia / drug therapy*
  • Neutropenia / etiology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Aminoglycosides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin