To better understand the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors in non-pregnant patients with Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) sepsis.

Clinical data were collected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2002 and December 2014. A case with non-pregnant Listeria sepsis is defined as a non-pregnant person with clinically compatible illness and from whom Listeria was isolated from his/her blood culture. We define an underlying condition if a patient has been diagnosed of and/or has been treated for a concurrent baseline disease within 1 month prior to the onset of Listeria sepsis.

A total of 35 patients were enrolled. The age of all patients was (49.1±17.0) years. The male to female ratio was 2∶3. Most patients were combined with at least 1 underlying condition (33, 94.3%), including 42.9% patients with an autoimmune disease, 34.3% with malignancies. The majority (91.4%) represented an acute onset (<1 week) with median time of 3 days. Clinical manifestations included fever (34/35, 97.1%), central nervous system (CNS) symptoms (17/35, 48.6%), gastrointestinal tract symptoms (13/35, 37.1%). Fourteen patients had undergone lumber puncture and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) tests, which revealed abnormalities comparable of Listeria meningitis. Listeria was isolated from CSF in 11 of 14 patients (78.6%). There were 34 patients receiving empiric antibiotics including 54.3% cephalosporins which are resistant to Listeria. Twenty five (71.4%) patients were switched to the target antimicrobials according to positive blood culture. Of the 35 patients with Listeria sepsis, 21 (60.0%) recovered or were cured, however the rest (40.0%) had dismal outcome. Six patients died in hospital, 8 critical patients were discharged and died after transferring to local hospitals.

Listeria sepsis is commonly associated with non-pregnant patients with compromised immune function. Clinical presentations include acute fever, CNS symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms etc. Empiric antibiotics covering Listeria should be considered when sepsis is suspected among susceptible hosts.

Sepsis; Listeria monocytogenes; Non-pregnancy associated