Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in 17 immunocompetent children

Abstract

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment of 17 children with Listeria monocytogenes(LM) meningitis (LMM). Methods Case histories (including clinical features, laboratory examination, treatment, prognosis ) of 17 LMM children who were hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Disease of Beijing Children′s Hospital from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.The age ranged from 7 months to 10 years, with an average of 3 years and 5 months. Among them, 1 case 3-<6 years old, and 4 cases≥6 years old. Related literatures were summarized. Results All of 17 patients were diagnosed by a positive cerebrospinal fluid culture of LM.All patients had fever.Other symptoms included seizures, headache and vomiting were found during the course of disease; infectious symptoms were relatively mild.The symptoms presented 7 to 50 days before admission.None of the patients was known to have immune deficiencies or any other underlying diseases.Five cases underwent strain typing, all resulting from strain type 1/2a.All patients used cephalosporin antibiotics before the diagnosis.After the diagnosis was confirmed, sensitive antibiotics were used according to the drug sensitivity test, including Penicillin, Meropenem, Vancomycin, Linezolid, and Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ), etc.Out of the 17 patients, 2 case had hydrocephalus, of which 1 cases had clinical symptoms, and underwent surgery for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.All patients were followed up for 1 year, with good prognosis and no neurological sequela. Conclusions LMM is rare in children, especially in children with no immune deficiencies.LMM in children can present with hydrocephalus.Ampicillin remains the first choice of treatment, while meropenem, SMZ and Linezolid can be used as substitution drugs. Key words: Child; Listeria monocytogenes; Meningitis