Severe listeriosis in intensive care units: insights from a retrospective multicentric study

Critical Care volume 29, Article number: 201 Published: 19 May 2025

Background

Listeriosis is a rare but severe foodborne infection, particularly affecting immunocompromised individuals and older adults. Severe cases may lead to neurolisteriosis and sepsis, necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) admission. This study aims to analyze the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, microbiological findings, treatments, and outcomes of critically ill patients with Listeria infections in the ICU.

Methods

A retrospective multicenter study was conducted across 23 French hospitals over a 10-year period, including ICU patients with culture-confirmed Listeria monocytogenes infections. Data on demographics, comorbidities, ICU admission characteristics, biological and microbiological parameters, treatments, and outcomes were collected. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with mortality in patients with neurological manifestations.

Results

A total of 110 patients were included, with a median age of 68 years; 61% were male, and 71% were immunocompromised. Neurological involvement was present in most cases. Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 58% of patients, and vasopressor support in 44%. ICU and in-hospital mortality rates were 25% and 32%, respectively. Among patients with neurolisteriosis, each 1-point decrease in Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission was associated with increased mortality (OR, 1.22; 95% CI 1.05–1.45; p = 0.009), as were higher cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels (OR, 1.56; 95% CI 1.15–2.41; p = 0.028). Steroid use was not significantly associated with reduced mortality (OR, 0.30; 95% CI 0.07–1.05; p = 0.076).

Conclusion

Listeriosis requiring ICU admission is associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in older and immunocompromised patients. The severity of these infections is reflected by the frequent need for organ support. Further research is needed to clarify the potential role of steroids in neurolisteriosis.

 

Targeting the host response in sepsis: current approaches and future evidence

 

by Christian Bode, Sebastian Weis, Andrea Sauer, Pedro Wendel-Garcia and Sascha David 

 

Critical Care volume 27, Article number: 478 (2023) Published: 06 December 2023

 

Abstract

Sepsis, a dysregulated host response to infection characterized by organ failure, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Disbalances of the immune response play an important role in its pathophysiology. Patients may develop simultaneously or concomitantly states of systemic or local hyperinflammation and immunosuppression. Although a variety of effective immunomodulatory treatments are generally available, attempts to inhibit or stimulate the immune system in sepsis have failed so far to improve patients’ outcome. The underlying reason is likely multifaceted including failure to identify responders to a specific immune intervention and the complex pathophysiology of organ dysfunction that is not exclusively caused by immunopathology but also includes dysfunction of the coagulation system, parenchymal organs, and the endothelium. Increasing evidence suggests that stratification of the heterogeneous population of septic patients with consideration of their host response might led to treatments that are more effective. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current studies aimed at optimizing the many facets of host response and to discuss future perspectives for precision medicine approaches in sepsis.

C-reactive protein clustering to clarify persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome

C-reactive protein clustering to clarify persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome

By Kensuke Nakamura, Kentaro Ogura, Hidehiko Nakano, Hiromu Naraba, Yuji Takahashi, Tomohiro Sonoo, Hideki Hashimoto & Naoto Morimura 

Intensive Care Medicine (2020) Published: 09 January 2020

Purpose

Among patients surviving treatment in intensive care units (ICU), some cases exist for which inflammation persisted with prolonged hospital stays, referred as persistent inflammatory, immunosuppressed, catabolic syndrome (PIICS). C reactive protein (CRP) is regarded as the most important marker for PIICS. Nevertheless, the applicable cut-off of CRP for PIICS has never been described in the literature.

Methods

Data of patients admitted to the ICU/Emergency ward from May 2015 through June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Using K-means clustering, a 14-day CRP transition dataset was analyzed and categorized finally into 7 classes: 4 PIICS classes and 3 non-PIICS classes. Outcomes and the other PIICS characteristics were evaluated.

Results

From all 5513 admitted patients, this study examined data of 539 patients who had been admitted for more than 14 days, and for whom 14 day CRP transition analysis could be performed. By the CRP transitions of 7 categorized classes, the CRP cut-off for PIICS was regarded as 3.0 mg/dl on day 14. The Barthel Index at discharge, albumin, and total lymphocyte counts on day 14 were significantly lower in PIICS classes than those of non-PIICS classes. Creatinine kinase, antithrombin activity and thrombomodulin on admission were regarded as independent risk factors for PIICS.

Conclusions

Among patients with prolonged hospital stay, the PIICS population had elevated CRP, but lower Barthel Index, albumin, and total lymphocyte counts. The criterion of day 14 CRP for PIICS should be 3.0 mg/dl.