A Case of Notifiable Alithiatic Cholecystitis

TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of gallbladder inflammation caused by a Listeria infection in a 65-year-old man, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Contribution

The paper presents a rare clinical case of Listeria-induced acute alithiatic cholecystitis, adding to the limited existing literature on this condition.

Findings

A 65-year-old male was diagnosed with Listeria monocytogenes-induced cholecystitis.

The patient was successfully treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and antibiotics.

Only 23 cases of listerial cholecystitis have been reported in medical literature.

Abstract

Acute alithiatic cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder without evidence of gallstones, often due to infection. It can occur at any age, and it is predominant in males.

Listeriosis is a rare bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes (LM) through the ingestion of contaminated food such as dairy, legumes, and raw meats. Clinical presentations of listeriosis include bacteremia, meningitis, and gastroenteritis. Acute cholecystitis caused by listeria is even more uncommon, with only 23 cases reported in the literature.

We present a case of a 65-year-old male, admitted to the Emergency Department with fever and altered state of consciousness which revealed bacteremia due to cholecystitis to LM. The patient was submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appropriate antibiotic coverage and was discharged seven days later. Early recognition and treatment of this disease are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality.

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