BACKGROUND: Listeria monocytogenes is the third most common cause of bacterial meningitis. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 30 episodes of community-acquired L. monocytogenes meningitis, confirmed by culture of cerebrospinal fluid specimens, in a nationwide study in The Netherlands. Outcome was graded using the Glasgow outcome score; an unfavorable outcome was defined as a score of 1-4. RESULTS: We found 30 episodes of L. monocytogenes meningitis. All patients were immunocompromised or > 50 years old. In 19 (63%) of 30 patients, symptoms were present for > 24 h; in 8 patients (27%), symptoms were present for > or = 4 days. The classic triad of fever, neck stiffness, and change in mental status was present in 13 (43%) of 30 patients. An individual cerebrospinal fluid indicator of bacterial meningitis was present in 23 (77%) of 30 cases. Gram staining of cerebrospinal fluid samples revealed the causative organism in 7 (28%) of 25 cases. The initial antimicrobial therapy was amoxicillin based for 21 (70%) of 30 patients. The coverage of initial antimicrobial therapy was microbiologically inadequate for 9 (30%) of the patients. The mortality rate was 17% (5 of 30), and 8 (27%) of 30 patients experienced an unfavorable outcome. Inadequate initial antimicrobial therapy was not related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with previous reports, we found that patients with meningitis due to L. monocytogenes do not present with atypical clinical features; however, typical cerebrospinal fluid findings predictive for bacterial meningitis might be absent. A high proportion of patients received initial antimicrobial therapy that did not cover L. monocytogenes.
BACKGROUND:Listeria monocytogenes is the third most common cause of bacterial meningitis. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 30 episodes of community-acquired L. monocytogenesmeningitis, confirmed by culture of cerebrospinal fluid specimens, in a nationwide study in The Netherlands. Outcome was graded using the Glasgow outcome score; an unfavorable outcome was defined as a score of 1-4. RESULTS: We found 30 episodes of L. monocytogenesmeningitis. All patients were immunocompromised or > 50 years old. In 19 (63%) of 30 patients, symptoms were present for > 24 h; in 8 patients (27%), symptoms were present for > or = 4 days. The classic triad of fever, neck stiffness, and change in mental status was present in 13 (43%) of 30 patients. An individual cerebrospinal fluid indicator of bacterial meningitis was present in 23 (77%) of 30 cases. Gram staining of cerebrospinal fluid samples revealed the causative organism in 7 (28%) of 25 cases. The initial antimicrobial therapy was amoxicillin based for 21 (70%) of 30 patients. The coverage of initial antimicrobial therapy was microbiologically inadequate for 9 (30%) of the patients. The mortality rate was 17% (5 of 30), and 8 (27%) of 30 patients experienced an unfavorable outcome. Inadequate initial antimicrobial therapy was not related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with previous reports, we found that patients with meningitis due to L. monocytogenes do not present with atypical clinical features; however, typical cerebrospinal fluid findings predictive for bacterial meningitis might be absent. A high proportion of patients received initial antimicrobial therapy that did not cover L. monocytogenes.
Authors: A Vergori; G Masi; D Donati; F Ginanneschi; P Annunziata; A Cerase; M Mencarelli; B Rossetti; A De Luca; G Zanelli Journal: Infection Date: 2016-01-29 Impact factor: 3.553
Authors: Samantha J Dando; Alan Mackay-Sim; Robert Norton; Bart J Currie; James A St John; Jenny A K Ekberg; Michael Batzloff; Glen C Ulett; Ifor R Beacham Journal: Clin Microbiol Rev Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 26.132
Authors: Tran Thi Hong Chau; James I Campbell; Constance Schultsz; Nguyen Van Vinh Chau; To Song Diep; Stephen Baker; Nguyen Tran Chinh; Jeremy J Farrar; H Rogier van Doorn Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2010-07-27 Impact factor: 11.069