Listeria monocytogenes meningitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory anemia with excess blasts: Case report

Abstract

Viral, fungal and bacterial infections are commonly seen in patients early after the allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), because of neutropenia in the early period, later they occur due to cell mediated immune deficiency and at the late post transplant period due to immunoglobulin deficiency. Listeria monocytogenes is a gram positive bacterium that invades and proliferates in macrophages and epithelium. Because it is an intracellular bacterium, besides its virulence, host immune system is also important for defence mechanism against bacterium. Life threatening bacteriemia and meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes are generally seen in newborns, elderly and immunosuppressive patients including organ recipients. Herein we reported a patient who had allogeneic BMT due to myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory anemia with excess blasts (MDS-RAEB), presented with L. monocytogenes meningitis six months after allogeneic transplantation. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.