Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due toListeria monocytogenes: importance of enrichment culture

Abstract

A case of Listeria monocytogenes induced spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is reported in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis. It is an indolent illness and may not show a neutrophil reaction in peritoneal fluid. Enrichment broth was required to isolate L monocytogenes in the patient. This is not routinely used in the UK and therefore isolates may be missed. L monocytogenes remains sensitive to ampicillin, penicillin and gentamicin, but is resistant to cephalosporin antibiotics. The rising incidence of listeriosis in the population suggests that the incidence of SBP from L monocytogenes is likely to increase.

The high prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes peritonitis in cirrhotic patients of an Egyptian Medical Center

“…High prevalence of Listeria peritonitis was reported in Spain. In other countries this infection was also diagnosed, such as USA, Brazil [9], Taiwan [10], Australia [11], France [12], Chile [13,14], and United Kingdom [15]. Nevertheless, the interesting finding in the present study is the high prevalence of L. monocytogenes.…”

Review article: spontaneous bacterial peritonitis – bacteriology, diagnosis, treatment, risk factors and prevention

“…One bacterium (monomicrobial) is the cause in more than 90% of cases, yet the probability of identifying a pathogen is mediocre as ascitic fluid cultures are positive in 50–60% of patients with SBP . Rare isolates reported in the literature include anaerobes, Aeromonas , Listeria , Streptococcus bovis , Bordetella bronchiseptica , Candida , Pasteurella multocida , Leclercia adecarboxylata , and Salmonella paratyphi A…”

Listeria monocytogenes as a cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a rare entity

“…Listeria has been known to have predilection for newborns and immunocompromised adults such as pregnant patients, elderly, those on immunosuppressive therapies or continuous peritoneal dialysis cancer, or AIDS patients ( 6 , 7 ). The use of proton pump inhibitors has also been implicated as a risk factor for SBP ( 8 ). Human cases of Listeria are usually linked to transmission from food products such as dairy or meat products.…”