Pleural Listeriosis: A Rare Entity

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, primarily manifesting as bacteremia or central nervous system infections.
• Involvement of other sites, such as the pleura, is rare and poorly documented.
• Empirical antibiotic treatment for respiratory infections is often ineffective against Listeria monocytogenes, potentially worsening patient prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of systemic listeriosis with pleural fluid involvement.
• To discuss the clinical management and outcome of pleural listeriosis.
• To highlight the importance of timely diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic selection.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient admitted to the ICU with septic shock.
• Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from pleural fluid and blood cultures.
• Detailed reporting of the patient's hospitalization course and clinical outcome.

Main Results:

• Successful isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from pleural fluid and blood cultures confirmed systemic infection with pleural involvement.
• The patient's clinical course and outcome during intensive care unit hospitalization are described.
• The case underscores the challenges in managing this rare infection.

Conclusions:

• Pleural listeriosis is an uncommon infection, often seen in immunocompromised individuals.
• Delayed identification of Listeria monocytogenes and the use of inappropriate empirical antibiotics can lead to adverse outcomes.
• Appropriate and timely management is crucial for improving the prognosis of pleural listeriosis.