Listeriosis in pediatric oncology patients Journal Article


Authors: Mora, J.; White, M.; Dunkel, I. J.
Article Title: Listeriosis in pediatric oncology patients
Abstract: BACKGROUND. Adult cancer patients are considered to be at an increased risk for Listeria monocytogenes infections, but, to the authors' knowledge, little information regarding this infection in the pediatric oncology population has been published. METHODS. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center microbiology laboratory's database was searched for cases of Listeria monocytogenes infection during the period from January 1981 to December 1996, and thorough chart reviews of the cases identified in patients age < 21 years were performed. RESULTS. Listerial infections occurred in 5 children (3 with leukemia, 1 with lymphoma, and 1 with a brain tumor) among 20,612 admissions to the pediatric department during this period. All five children were actively receiving therapy for their malignancy, and two also were receiving other potentially immunosuppressive therapies. None was receiving co- trimoxazole prophylaxis. All were treated successfully for the Listeria monocytogenes infection with ampicillin and gentamicin (four patients) or ampicillin alone (one patient). At last follow-up two patients were long term, event-free survivors, two had died of their underlying malignancy, and one patient had died of cytomegalovirus pneumonitis. CONCLUSIONS. Listeria monocytogenes infections in pediatric oncology patients can be treated successfully with ampicillin-containing antibiotic regimens.
Keywords: survival; adolescent; adult; child; clinical article; leukemia; brain neoplasms; neoplasms; disease association; childhood cancer; lymphoma, t-cell; anti-bacterial agents; drug therapy, combination; lymphoma; oligodendroglioma; gentamicin; immunosuppressive treatment; cytomegalovirus infection; listeriosis; listeria monocytogenes; listeria infections; pediatric oncology; ampicillin; penicillins; gentamicins; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 83
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 1998-08-15
Start Page: 817
End Page: 820
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19980815)83:4<817::aid-cncr28>3.0.co;2-u
PUBMED: 9708951
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Ira J Dunkel
    371 Dunkel
  2. Mary H White
    43 White
  3. Jaime Mora
    25 Mora