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Listeria monocytogenes Infections

  • Chapter
Bacterial Infections of Humans

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes infections resulting in disease occur most often in the immunocompromised host. It is the T helper cell—mononuclear phagocyte arm of the immune defense that is altered. Disease occurs in the very young and very old as well as in patients with neoplastic disease and in organ transplant patients. Alcoholism and diabetes mellitus are also frequent associated factors. Cases do occur in apparently normal hosts. The types of infections vary. Severe, usually lethal, disseminated, multiorgan disease is seen in neonates following intrauterine infection. In contrast, transient bacteremia resolving without therapy has been documented in a variety of patients. Meningitis and/or cerebritis is the most common disease seen. Focal infection of almost any organ has been described. Table 1 contains a categorization of L. monocytogenes infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Donald Armstrong

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  1. Donald Armstrong
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Alfred S. Evans (John Rodman Paul Professor of Epidemiology, Emeritus) (John Rodman Paul Professor of Epidemiology, Emeritus)

  2. Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Philip S. Brachman

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Armstrong, D. (1991). Listeria monocytogenes Infections. In: Evans, A.S., Brachman, P.S. (eds) Bacterial Infections of Humans. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1211-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1211-7_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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