Successful treatment of Listeria monocytogenes prosthetic valve endocarditis using rifampicin and benzylpenicillin in combination with valve replacement

Abstract

Introduction. Listeria monocytogenes is an uncommon cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Recommended antimicrobial therapy typically includes intravenous β-lactams with or without synergistic aminoglycosides. In vitro studies have previously identified antagonism when rifampicin has been used in combination with β-lactams. However, in vivo data of rifampicin use are limited despite its enhanced anti-biofilm activity.Case presentation. A 63-year-old male presented with fever and back pain. L. monocytogenes bacteraemia and bioprosthetic aortic valve endocarditis was confirmed, along with spinal discitis and osteomyelitis. He was successfully treated with benzylpenicillin and rifampicin, in conjunction with valve replacement.Conclusion. Rifampicin remains an alternate agent to use, when there are contraindications to traditional aminoglycoside therapy. Further data on rifampicin use in L. monocytogenes PVE are awaited.

Listeria spondylodiscitis: an uncommon etiology of a common condition; a case report

“…Following ingestion, systemic infection can be established through tissue penetration across the gastrointestinal tract or hematogenous spread to sterile sites including the central nervous system (CNS), heart, liver, spleen, and placenta [ 3 ]. Consistent with this, L. monocytogenes associated bacteremia, meningoencephalitis, infective endocarditis, and endovascular graft infections have been previously reported [ 4 – 7 ]. Interestingly, however, this organism rarely causes bone and joint infections, and if so, occurs typically in the context of prosthetic material providing a site for bacterial seeding.…”

A rare presentation of Listeria monocytogenes infection: Perianal abscess associated with lumbar spine osteitis

“…The authors present a case of a 65-year-old male with a past medical history of diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption and recurrent skin abscess who was diagnosed with a perianal abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes , with associated lumbar spine osteitis. Performing a PubMed search with terms “listeriosis”, “ Listeria monocytogenes ” and “spondylodiscitis” just two related cases of spondylodiscitis due to Listeria monocytogenes were found: the first one in an elderly man without other predisposing risk factors other than his advanced age [11]; and the second one in a 63-year-old man with medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus without other risk factors, who presented with both spondylodiscitis and endocarditis [12].…”

Listeria endocarditis and spondylodiscitis: a case report and review of the literature

“…Spinal involvement is less common, resulting in spondylodiscitis. To our knowledge, 7 cases of Listeria spondylodiscitis have been described in the literature (Table 1) [4,9,10,11,12,13,14]. In some cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by spinal biopsy.…”

“…In a 2012 study, no treatment failure was observed in patients with the osteoarticular form without prosthetic devices treated for a median of 15 weeks [7]. Other authors have shown the effectiveness of rifampicin and cotrimoxazole [4,11]. Long-term treatment with aminopenicillin remains a consensus.…”