Work

Listeria monocytogenes Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Associated With Dissemination and Fatal Meningoencephalitis in a COVID-19 Co-infected Cirrhotic Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: (LM) is a food-borne pathogen that can cause severe invasive infections, particularly in immunocompromised or elderly patients. Bacterial co-infections are frequently reported in COVID-19 patients, with both COVID-19-induced immune dysregulation and immunosuppressive therapies such as corticosteroids specifically creating risk for more unusual pathogens such as LM. We report a case of a 78-year-old woman with underlying cirrhosis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis who presented with fever and weakness, tested positive for COVID-19, and rapidly developed evidence of LM peritonitis with bacteremia and meningoencephalitis after dexamethasone initiation. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for listeriosis in acutely encephalopathic or septic patients with risk factors, especially during the COVID-19 era and in those receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.105409

Authors: Rodolfo Myronn De Melo Rodrigues, Luciana Vergara Ferraz de Souza, Rodrigo Furlan Silva Fabri, Vamsi K Kunam, Jeffrey Sherwood

Institutions: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, University of Connecticut, UConn Health

Language: English

Topic: Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety

Subfield: Biotechnology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7138207753