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Itoga M, Asari Y, Morimoto T, Taima K, Nakamura K, Tanaka Y, Tanaka H, Takanashi S, Kayaba H, Okumura K. Sepsis caused by Listeria monocytogenes during chemotherapy for small cell carcinoma of the thymus. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:268. [PMID: 26111524 PMCID: PMC4482043 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1230-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular parasitic bacterium that is Gram positive, catalase positive, oxidase negative, and a facultative anaerobe. It is known to infect humans through food. It is a bacillus with low virulence, but can cause meningitis and sepsis in infants and immunocompromised patients. CASE PRESENTATION A case of 75-year-old Japanese female with small cell carcinoma of the thymus and pleural dissemination is described. She was treated with carboplatin and etoposide and showed a partial response. However, the tumor recurred 6 months later. Therefore, we again administered carboplatin and etoposide. Though peritoneal dissemination was suspected based on abdominal computed tomography findings after two courses, the assessment was stable disease. She was occasionally treated for constipation. She developed chills, rigor, and diarrhea, necessitating admission on the 7th day of the third course of chemotherapy. We suspected intestinal infection, and cefepime was thus administered. However, her blood pressure dropped and neutropenia manifested on the 4th day of admission. We therefore switched the antibiotic from cefepime to meropenem and also administered granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Listeria monocytogenes was detected by two blood cultures, and the antimicrobial medication was thus switched to ampicillin, in consideration of sensitivity. Her general condition improved and she was able to leave the hospital on the 19th day after admission. CONCLUSIONS During chemotherapy, factors such as impaired bowel movements, malnutrition, and myeloablation can contribute to the development of severe infections. It is necessary to comprehensively assess a patient's state and treat all aspects of illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamichi Itoga
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan. .,Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Yuko Asari
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Morimoto
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Kageaki Taima
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Kunihiko Nakamura
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Yoshihito Tanaka
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan. .,Department of Cardiology Medicine, Mutsu General Hospital, 1-2-8 Ogawa-cho, Mutsu, 035-8601, Japan.
| | - Hisashi Tanaka
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan. .,Department of Anatomic Pathology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Shingo Takanashi
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan. .,Health Administration Center, Hirosaki University, 1 Bunkyo, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Kayaba
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Ken Okumura
- Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.
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