Abstract
Background
Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) is a frequently utilized therapy in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Opportunistic infections are a known but an infrequently encountered complication. Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is an aerobic gram-positive intracellular bacillus. Clinical presentation of infection is host dependent, ranging from self-limited illnesses in immunocompetent individuals to life-threatening sepsis and meningitis in the immunocompromised. TNF plays a crucial role in host’s defense against LM. Although published in adults, few case reports have documented invasive LM in children receiving infliximab (IFX), an anti-TNF agent used in IBD therapy.
Aims
Describe an adolescent with IBD-unclassified (IBD-U) in whom LM sepsis and meningitis was diagnosed after induction therapy with intravenous (IV) IFX.
Methods
Case report and literature review.
Results
A 15-year-old girl presented with 2-week history of progressive abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, urgency, nocturnal stooling, tenesmus, and weight loss. She had been afebrile, with no history of exposures. Examination revealed pallor and tenderness in the right and left lower quadrants. Investigations showed elevated white cell count (WBC), platelets, inflammatory markers, and low albumin. Abdominal ultrasound showed thickening of the descending and sigmoid colon. Stool multiplex PCR was negative. Colonoscopy showed Mayo 3 pancolitis. The terminal ileum was not intubated and endoscopy was normal. She was diagnosed with IBD-U. Due to poor response to high dose IV steroids, IV IFX (after documenting normal vaccination titers) was given with good clinical response and no adverse effects; she was discharged on tapering prednisone. She re-presented 3 days later with fever, severe headaches, photophobia, and neck stiffness. Her IBD remained quiescent. She had consumed a cold meat sandwich 10 days prior. Antibiotics were started as investigations showed leukocytosis and very high inflammatory markers. Brain MRI showed pus in the lateral ventricles. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed WBC 1832 x106/L, low glucose, and high protein. Blood and CSF cultures detected LM. She defervesced within 24 hours and completed a 21-day course of Ampicillin monotherapy. 2-month follow up showed IBD in continuous remission on IFX with no neurological sequalae, and a normal brain MRI.
Conclusions
This is the youngest patient with IBD reported with invasive listeriosis secondary to IFX and adds to 3 cases in children. It highlights the importance of vigilance when evaluating IBD patients with fever during IFX-based therapy. Physicians should be reminded of such patients’ immunocompromised state and their high risk of acquiring opportunistic infections. It is unclear if listeriosis avoidance precautions, currently recommended in pregnant women, should be adopted in patients receiving anti-TNF therapy.
Funding Agencies
None
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