Human Listeriosis Presenting as Breast Abscess: Report of a Rare Case

Abstract

An abscess is defined as a collection of pus in various tissues of the body including skin and other organs. Abscesses most commonly are formed on the skin under the armpits, groin areas, and rectal areas. Most abscesses involve microbial infections with few remaining sterile. The treatment of abscesses includes both medical and surgical intervention. In the era of multidrug resistance, isolation and identification of the causative microbe and testing for antimicrobial susceptible patterns assume greater significance for the better management of patients, thereby reducing the resultant morbidity and mortality. Listeria spp. are a group of aerobic and non-spore forming gram-positive bacilli. They are present in the environment, soil, and water. Listeria spp. have also been noted to be present as a normal intestinal flora of animals. They are known for their ability to thrive under both cold and hot environmental conditions. Human infections with Listeria spp. have not been frequently reported, mostly because of the difficulty in laboratory identification and complex clinical presentations. In humans, Listeria spp. have been frequently responsible for food poisoning and neonatal meningitis. Although not considered as a classic pathogen, Listeria spp. are associated with infections in elderly people, pregnant women, newborns, and persons with weakened immune systems. This report presents a case of breast abscess caused by Listeria spp. in a young lactating female belonging to rural India.

Recurring food source‐based Listeria outbreaks in the United States: An unsolved puzzle of concern?

“…and 11 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography confirmed endocarditis. 12 Although…”

“…As all these pathogenic organisms are usually food‐borne, the study concluded that post‐transplant food‐borne ailment was a critical cause of morbidity and mortality in such patients. A potential Listeria ‐induced endocarditis case was reported in a 74‐year‐old hemodialysis patient with bacteraemic L. monocytogenes , and 11 F‐fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography‐computed tomography confirmed endocarditis 12 . Although Listeria is not a usual causative agent of infective endocarditis, the high‐risk immunosuppressed and the elderly are susceptible 13 .…”

“…Listeria is a motile gram‐positive non‐sporulating bacillus. Believed to be an opportunistic pathogen, it is associated with infections like breast abscess, bacteraemia, meningoencephalitis and others 11,19,20 . Due to its ability to thrive at low temperatures, frozen food is often associated with listeriosis.…”

“…Believed to be an opportunistic pathogen, it is associated with infections like breast abscess, bacteraemia, meningoencephalitis and others. 11 , 19 , 20 Due to its ability to thrive at low temperatures, frozen food is often associated with listeriosis. Listeria diagnosis is carried out through basic laboratory techniques, although it is complex and often lacks brevity.…”

Clinical Research: A Review of Study Designs, Hypotheses, Errors, Sampling Types, Ethics, and Informed Consent

“…Listeria is a bacterium that generally affects humans in the form of food poisoning and neonatal meningitis. Such an organism was reported to cause breast abscesses [ 19 ].…”