Listeria monocytogenes Septicemia Associated with Consumption of Salted Mushrooms

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes septicemia in an 80-year-old man is described. On the day before clinical symptoms appeared the patient had eaten homemade salted mushrooms, rufous milk-cap (Lactarius rufus Fr.). L. monocytogenes serotype 4b was isolated in blood cultures. The mushrooms which had been stored in cold for 5 months before consumption contained the same listeria serotype at a level of 10⁶ CFU/g. Salt content (NaCl) of the mushrooms was 7.5%. Fever and diarrhea disappeared with penicillin therapy and the patient was discharged after 4 weeks in the hospital.