Rhabdomyolysis and listeria monocytogenes

A Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess presenting with myasthenia and tea-colored urine: A case report and review of 77 cases of bacterial rhabdomyolysis

RATIONALE

Rhabdomyolysis is a well-known syndrome in clinical practice, although rhabdomyolysis caused by a liver abscess is rarely reported and the patient may lack symptoms that are associated with a primary site of infection. Early recognition of this possibility is needed to avoid diagnostic delay and facilitate treatment. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with a Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) pyogenic liver abscess who presented with myasthenia and tea-colored urine and also review the 77 reported cases of bacterial rhabdomyolysis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient was 71 years old and presenting with a 7-day history of myasthenia and a 3-day history of tea-colored urine, but without fever or abdominal pain.

DIAGNOSES

Laboratory testing in our case revealed rhabdomyolysis, and blood culture revealed KP. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic enclosed mass, and computed tomography (CT) revealed an enclosed low-density mass (8.3 × 6.6 × 6.1 cm). The main diagnoses were a pyogenic liver abscess with rhabdomyolysis.

INTERVENTIONS

Empirically intravenous piperacillin-sulbactam and intravenous potassium treatment, as well as fluid infusions and other supportive treatments were provided after admission. After the diagnosis was confirmed and susceptibility test results were available, we adjusted the antibiotics to cefoperazone and sulbactam, which were maintained for 6 weeks.

OUTCOMES

The patient's symptoms relieved and the abnormal laboratory parameters corrected. Follow-up abdominal ultrasonography at 24 months after her discharge revealed that the abscess had disappeared.

LESSONS

Early recognition and careful consideration of the underlying cause of rhabdomyolysis are critical to improving the patient's prognosis. Thus, physicians should carefully consider the underlying cause in elderly patients who present with rhabdomyolysis, as they may lack symptoms of a primary infection.

Listeria monocytogenes meningitis associated with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure

INTRODUCTION

Numerous systemic infections are capable of inducing myositis and rhabdomyolysis. Clinical course of the disease is in the great majority of patients benign and without development of renal dysfunction. However, serious consequences are possible if acute renal failure (ARF) occurs, especially in critically ill patients.

METHODS

Patient with Listeria monocytogenes meningitis associated with rhabdomyolysis and acute non-oliguric ARF is presented.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine-year-old white male was admitted to our intensive care unit because of listerial meningitis. The course of the disease was complicated with rhabdomyolysis and non-oliguric ARF. After antimicrobial treatment with parenteral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 4 days of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) the patient recovered.

CONCLUSION

We report a case of listerial meningitis complicated with non-oliguric ARF. Rhabdomyolysis should be considered in all patients with infection and increased CK, especially if consciousness is impaired is altered. Furthermore, despite the normal diuresis ARF could be present and result in adverse consequences. We infer that timely diagnosis and treatment should improve the outcome of infection-induced rhabdomyolysis and could prevent a proportion of associated ARF.

Central nervous system infection with Listeria monocytogenes. 33 years' experience at a general hospital and review of 776 episodes from the literature

We reviewed 776 previously reported and 44 new cases of CNS listeriosis outside of pregnancy and the neonatal period, and evaluated the epidemiologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic characteristics of this infection. Among patients with Listeria meningitis/meningoencephalitis, hematologic malignancy and kidney transplantation were the leading predisposing factors, but 36% of patients had no underlying diseases recognized. The infection occurred throughout life, with a higher incidence before the age of 3 and after the age of 45-50 years. Fever, altered sensorium, and headache were the most common symptoms, but 42% of patients had no meningeal signs on admission. Compared with patients with acute meningitis due to other bacterial pathogens, patients with Listeria infection had a significantly lower incidence of meningeal signs, and the CSF profile was significantly less likely to have a high WBC count or a high protein concentration. Gram stain of CSF was negative in two-thirds of cases of CNS listeriosis. One-third of patients had focal neurologic findings, and approximately one-fourth developed seizures over their course. Mortality was 26% overall, and was higher among patients with seizures and those older than 65 years of age. Relapse occurred in 7% of episodes. Ampicillin for a minimum of 15-21 days (with an aminoglycoside for at least the first 7-10 days) remains the treatment of choice. Cerebritis/abscess due to L. monocytogenes, without meningeal involvement, is less common but may be diagnosed by blood cultures and CNS imaging, or by stereotactic biopsy. Longer antibiotic therapy (at least 5-6 weeks) is needed in the presence of localized CNS involvement.