Listeria monocytogenes infections ― therapeutic possibilities and problems
Listeriosis in humans is a rare disease, which, however, is known to be epidemic and endemic. The prognosis has remained unsatisfactory up to today, the fatality being at least 10% and often considerably higher depending on the clinical features of the disease and the patient's age. Three popul...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Infection 1988-01, Vol.16 (S2), p.S175-S177 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Listeriosis in humans is a rare disease, which, however, is known to be epidemic and endemic. The prognosis has remained unsatisfactory up to today, the fatality being at least 10% and often considerably higher depending on the clinical features of the disease and the patient's age. Three population groups are at risk: pregnant women, fetuses and newborn infants. Furthermore, immunosuppression in older patients due to disease, therapy, or age also plays a role. The incidence of Listeria infections in patients over 45 is clearly increasing. Due to the nature of the pathogen (in vivo bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics are often not attainable; intracellular growth) a high dosage of ampicillin is recommended. Although the present therapeutic possibilities are not satisfactory, a combination of ampicillin and an aminoglycoside appears to be the best therapy at present. Other combinations such as rifampicin and beta-lactam antibiotics have exhibited in vitro antagonism. The preferred therapy, ampicillin, can only be recommended with reservations because it is not optimally effective. |
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ISSN: | 0300-8126 1439-0973 |
DOI: | 10.1007/BF01639744 |