Development of Listeriosis during Vancomycin Therapy in a Neutropenic Patient

Abstract

Vancomycin and aminoglycosides are widely used for fever in neutropenic patients. This combination of antibiotics has also been proposed for the treatment of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia. We report a case of fatal listeriosis in a 33-year-old man during acute lymphoblastic leukemia induction therapy in a total protective environment despite him having been on vancomycin for 8 days for treatment of staphylococcus bacteremia. Vancomycin and aminoglycoside cannot be proposed for the treatment of L. monocytogenes bacteremia in neutropenic patients. Neutropenia might be a risk factor for listeriosis in cancer patients.