Unusual infections due to Listeria monocytogenes in the Southern California Desert. 2008

Lawrence A Cone, and Michael S Somero, and Farsana J Qureshi, and Shuba Kerkar, and Richard G Byrd, and Joel M Hirschberg, and Anibal R Gauto
Department of Medicine, Eisenhower Medical Center, 39000 Bob Hope Drive, P308, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, USA. laconemedico@AOL.com

BACKGROUND During the past 22 years, 14 patients have been hospitalized with infection due to Listeria monocytogenes at the Eisenhower Medical Center, a regional 300-bed hospital in the desert southwest of Southern California. A large number of patients are retired, elderly, and have underlying and often systemic disease. METHODS Blood agar and routine media were inoculated with liquid from a sterile site such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or joint fluid and observed daily for growth. Appropriate biochemical studies were used to speciate the organism. RESULTS While bacteremia and meningitis constitute 75% of infections in most studies, they made up only 36% of patients in the current study. Listeriosis occurred mostly in patients with infected aortic aneurysms and brain abscesses, and in prosthetic joint infections. While mortality is generally stated to be around 45% in patients with listeriosis, it was 35% in this study. However, there were no deaths in five patients with bacteremia or meningitis inferring that organ involvement poses a greater hazard for survival. CONCLUSIONS Listeriosis usually presents as a bacteremia or meningitis due to a food-borne invasive infection. In the desert of Southern California most cases are seen in older patients with underlying disease and present with infected aortic aneurysms, prosthetic joints, and brain abscesses. They represent a greater threat to survival due to organ involvement.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008088 Listeriosis Infections with bacteria of the genus LISTERIA. Listeria Infections,Infections, Listeria,Infection, Listeria,Listeria Infection,Listerioses
D008089 Listeria monocytogenes A species of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. It has been isolated from sewage, soil, silage, and from feces of healthy animals and man. Infection with this bacterium leads to encephalitis, meningitis, endocarditis, and abortion.
D008297 Male Males
D008584 Meningitis, Listeria Inflammation of the meninges caused by LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES infection, usually occurring in individuals under the age of 3 years or over the age of 50 years. It may occur at any age in individuals with IMMUNOLOGIC DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES. Clinical manifestations include FEVER, altered mentation, HEADACHE, meningeal signs, focal neurologic signs, and SEIZURES. (From Medicine 1998 Sep;77(5):313-36) Meningoencephalitis, Listeria,Listeria Cerebritis,Listeria Meningoencephalitis,Listeria monocytogenes Meningitis,Cerebritides, Listeria,Cerebritis, Listeria,Listeria Cerebritides,Listeria Meningitides,Listeria Meningitis,Listeria Meningoencephalitides,Listeria monocytogenes Meningitides,Meningitides, Listeria,Meningitides, Listeria monocytogenes,Meningitis, Listeria monocytogenes,Meningoencephalitides, Listeria
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D001922 Brain Abscess A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate in the brain, due to bacterial and other infections. The majority are caused by spread of infected material from a focus of suppuration elsewhere in the body, notably the PARANASAL SINUSES, middle ear (see EAR, MIDDLE); HEART (see also ENDOCARDITIS, BACTERIAL), and LUNG. Penetrating CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES may also be associated with this condition. Clinical manifestations include HEADACHE; SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits; and alterations of consciousness. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp712-6) Brain Abscess, Child,Brain Abscess, Multiple,Brain Abscess, Pyogenic,Brain Abscess, Sterile,Cerebral Abscess,Abscess, Brain,Abscess, Cerebral,Abscess, Child Brain,Abscess, Multiple Brain,Abscess, Pyogenic Brain,Abscesses, Cerebral,Abscesses, Multiple Brain,Brain Abscesses,Brain Abscesses, Multiple,Brain Abscesses, Pyogenic,Brain Abscesses, Sterile,Cerebral Abscesses,Child Brain Abscess,Multiple Brain Abscess,Multiple Brain Abscesses,Pyogenic Brain Abscess,Pyogenic Brain Abscesses,Sterile Brain Abscess,Sterile Brain Abscesses
D002140 California State bounded on the east by Nevada and Arizona, on the south by Mexico and the Pacific Ocean on the south and west, and on the north by Oregon.
D003889 Desert Climate A type of climate characterized by insufficient moisture to support appreciable plant life. It is a climate of extreme aridity, usually of extreme heat, and of negligible rainfall. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Climate, Desert,Climates, Desert,Desert Climates
D005260 Female Females

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