Linezolid Activity Against Disseminated Listeria monocytogenes Meningitis and Central Nervous System Abscesses: Focus on Early Drug Myelotoxicity

Roberto      Manfredi

Abstract

A very infrequent report of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis and multiple subtentorial abscesses (cerebellar, bulbar, and pontine in location), occurred in an immunocompetent man, and is described and discussed on the ground of the most recent literature evidences regarding the frequency, presentation, and outcome of this disease. The possibility to resort to combination linezolid therapy in patients who appear to be not responsive to first-line treatment of cerebral abscess of definite origin, and the appearance of anemia as an early untoward event of this novel oxazolidinone antibiotic, are also debated.

Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes, bacterial meningitis, brain abscesses, immunocompetent host, linezolid, diagnosis, cure, untoward events