Published online Jun 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i18.4873
Peer-review started: March 11, 2021
First decision: March 25, 2021
Revised: April 6, 2021
Accepted: April 28, 2021
Article in press: April 28, 2021
Published online: June 26, 2021
Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are important to survival of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) bacteremia. Penicillin tends to be the most commonly used antibiotic. However, there are limited data on antibiotic use in elderly patients with serious complications. We describe the clinical presentation, antibiotic therapy, and traceability of L. monocytogenes in a centenarian with a history of eating frozen food.
A 102-year-old man suffered from high fever with chill after hematochezia. Tentative diagnoses were lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage and localized peritonitis. Meropenem and ornidazole were the empirical therapy. The patient did not respond and developed multiple system dysfunction even after teicoplanin was added to the therapy. L. monocytogenes was identified from blood cultures on day 5 of admission. The patient had a history of consuming frozen dumplings. Meropenem/ornidazole/teicoplanin were replaced with merope
More awareness of listeriosis should be raised. Linezolid might be an option for listeriosis in elderly people with serious complications.
Core Tip: Appropriate antibiotic treatment is important to survival of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia. Penicillin tends to be the most commonly used antibiotic. However, there are limited data on antibiotic use in elderly patients with serious complications. Linezolid might be valuable for treatment of the L. monocytogenes bacteremia. Geriatricians should be suspicious of listeriosis when patients do not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotics, and when patients have a history of frozen food consumption. Healthy eating habits and food processing methods should be prioritized in elderly people.