infection in a 56-year-old female cancer patient: a case report Open Access

Abstract

Introduction:

, the aetiological agent of foodborne listeriosis, can cause a severe and potentially fatal foodborne infection. Listeriosis is associated with acquired immunodeficiency or the underlying immunosuppression found in pregnant women, cancer patients and the elderly. Listeriosis emerged in developed countries in the early 1980s with the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS and the popularity of minimally processed foods; however, few cases have been reported from developing countries. Here, we present a successfully treated case of listeriosis in a patient undergoing chemotherapy.

Case presentation:

An elderly female patient with thyroid carcinoma metastasized to the lungs became seriously ill following the initiation of chemotherapy. The patient was admitted with symptoms of generalized convulsion and an altered level of consciousness and was treated empirically with meropenem, amikacin and linezolid injection. Cultures of blood and cerebrospinal fluid revealed on day 5 post-admission. The patient was treated with ampicillin (2 g intravenously every 4 h), which resolved the bacterial infection by day 9. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first diagnosed and successfully treated case of listeriosis in a cancer patient to be reported from Bangladesh.

Conclusion:

Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment of listeriosis. We recommend raising awareness among healthcare professionals about the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially fatal disease. Patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatments that elevate the risk of listeriosis should be monitored, and the medical histories of patients presenting with possible listeriosis should be carefully reviewed for immunosuppression. The incidence of listeriosis should be established to identify susceptible populations and to implement food safety procedures in this rapidly developing country.

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2015-08-01
2024-03-29
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