Listeriosis meningoencephalitis as an opportunistic disease in HIV infection

Aim: To identify the signs and reasons why listeriosis can be classified as opportunistic infections in HIV infection, requiring timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent the development of a severe course of the disease and minimize the risks of death.  

Materials and methods: 38 hospitalized patients with listeriosis meningitis/ meningoencephalitis were examined. All patients were hospitalized in the boxed departments of neuroinfections (the diagnosis of HIV infection was not known) with a directional diagnosis of meningitis of unclear etiology, where, according to the Meningitis program, a PCR examination for L. monocytogenes was included. The comparison group consisted of patients with other most common bacterial pyogenic meningitis (BPM) – meningococcal, pneumococcal and patients with listeriosis meningitis/meningoencephalitis without HIV infection.  

Results: Studies have shown that patients with HIV infection accounted for the majority – 26% (out of 38 hospitalized). Men predominated among the patients – 60 %, the average age was 34.9 ± 2.2 years (29 – 41), which differs from the well–known age status, where the risk group is primarily male patients over 70 years of age.  

Conclusion: Polymorphism of clinical manifestations of neuro listeriosis in some cases presents diagnostic difficulties for primary care physicians. CNS listeriosis in patients with HIV infection belongs to the category of opportunistic infections, which clinically and in the study of cerebrospinal fluid presents difficulties for early diagnosis, which directly affects the timing of the initiation of etiotropic therapy and the further outcome of the disease. 

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