Hemochromatosis and Listeria Infection

Authors: J G Sinkovics F CORMIA C Plager

Publish Date: 1980/02/01

Volume: 140, Issue: 2, Pages: 284-284

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Abstract

To the Editor  — Apart from perinatal infection of mother and fetus Listeria monocytogenes preferentially infects patients with impaired cellmediated immunity Patients with malignant lymphoma and Hodgkins disease1 and kidney transplant recipients23 succumb most often to this infection Meningoencephalitis4 endocarditis septicemia and peritonitis1 are the most common clinical forms of infection Ampicillin sodium remains the treatment of choice it probably acts synergistically with tobramycin sulfate5Hemochromatosis was not known to pose special susceptibility to listerial infections However a patient was recently described who had hemochromatosis and meningitis with L monocytogenes6 We have attended another patient with hemochromatosis and listerial sepsisOur patient was a 61yearold man with hemochromatosis and micronodular cirrhosis of the liver He was admitted with the suspicion of malignant hepatoma Previously he had suffered from chronic infections of his hip prosthesis After paracentesis he suffered an acute myocardial infarction and became

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