A Case of Pneumonia with Pleural Effusion Caused by Listeria monocytogenes.
- Author:
Tark KIM
1
;
Dae Young KIM
;
Heungsup SUNG
;
Mi Na KIM
;
Sung Han KIM
;
Sang Ho CHOI
;
Jun Hee WOO
;
Yang Soo KIM
;
Sang Oh LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes; Pneumonia; Pleural effusion
- MeSH: Aged; Ampicillin; Bacteremia; Bacteria; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gentamicins; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Induction Chemotherapy; Infant, Newborn; Listeria; Listeria monocytogenes; Mammals; Meningoencephalitis; Pleural Effusion; Pleurisy; Pneumonia; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Pregnant Women; Soil
- From:Infection and Chemotherapy 2012;44(2):87-91
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative anaerobic gram positive rod bacteria that is wide spread in the natural environment and found in soil, water, decaying vegetation, and as part of the fecal flora of many mammals. It is also a common cause for meningoencephalitis and bacteremia in at-risk groups including neonates, pregnant women, elderly persons, and immunocompromised patients. However, pneumonia with pleuritis is a very rare manifestation of L. monocytogenes. We report a case of pneumonia with pleural effusion caused by L. monocytogenes as isolated from the blood culture of a patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia resulting from induction chemotherapy. The patient recovered after the introduction of therapeutic thoracentesis and administration of intravenous ampicillin (2 g q 6 hr) plus gentamicin (1.7 mg/kg q 8 hr) over a two week period. This case demonstrated that L. monocytogenesis infection should be a consideration in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia and pleuritis in leukemic patients.
