Caring for a patient with Listeria endocarditis: use of antibiotic desensitization.

Listeria monocytogenes, an opportunistic organism commonly acquired from contaminated foods, is a particularly deadly cause of bacterial endocarditis. Although signs and symptoms vary, diagnosis is based on results of blood cultures and echocardiographic evidence of endocardial involvement. The auth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical Care Nurse Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 38 - 43
Main Author: Candela L
Format: case study tables/charts Journal Article
Published: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Oct2002
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Listeria monocytogenes, an opportunistic organism commonly acquired from contaminated foods, is a particularly deadly cause of bacterial endocarditis. Although signs and symptoms vary, diagnosis is based on results of blood cultures and echocardiographic evidence of endocardial involvement. The author describes the development of Listeria endocarditis and the role of antibiotic treatment, and includes a case study.