Antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a patient with multiple myeloma

• Published in: Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 123 - 125
• Main Authors: Matano, Sadaya, Satoh, Shigehiko, Harada, Yukari, Sugimoto, Tatsuho, Nagata, Hajime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2010; Springer Japan
• Subjects: Aged, 80 and over; Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Case Report; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - drug effects; Listeria monocytogenes - isolation & purification; Listeriosis - cerebrospinal fluid; Listeriosis - complications; Listeriosis - drug therapy; Medical Microbiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meningitis; Meningitis, Bacterial - cerebrospinal fluid; Meningitis, Bacterial - complications; Meningitis, Bacterial - drug therapy; Meropenem; Multiple myeloma; Multiple Myeloma - cerebrospinal fluid; Multiple Myeloma - drug therapy; Multiple Myeloma - microbiology; Virology; Listeria monocytogenes; Meningitis; Meropenem; Ampicillin; Multiple myeloma
• ISSN: 1341-321X; 1437-7780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10156-009-0014-3

Abstract Multiple myeloma is a hematolymphoid malignancy, and patients with this disorder are frequently complicated by infection. An 80-year-old woman with multiple myeloma was complicated by bacterial meningitis, and was admitted to our hospital in August 2007. She initially received ceftriaxone, but culture of cerebrospinal fluid detected Listeria monocytogenes . Ampicillin was administered, but headache and pyrexia persisted for 2 weeks, and on cerebrospinal fluid examination, the proliferation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes had not resolved. After medication with meropenem was started, the clinical symptoms completely disappeared, and the abnormalities on cerebrospinal fluid examination resolved. The patient ultimately received meropenem for 27 days, resulting in a cure. In conclusion, meropenem is useful to treat bacterial meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes . This agent is indicated when ampicillin shows inadequate effect or if the patient has an allergy to ampicillin.