LISTERIOSIS AFTER FLUDARABINE TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

The authors report a case of Listeria monocytogenes septicemia in a pa tient with advanced CLL after a single course of fludarabine, without any other immunosuppressive therapy e.g. corticosteroids. The immunosu ppressive action of fludarabine in patients who are already severely i mmunosuppressed must be considered from a diagnostic and therapeutic p oint of view. Listeriosis and other opportunistic infections, like pne umocystis carinii pneumonia, have been reported during and after treat ment with purine analogues. Prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole must theref ore be discussed in patients with CLL treated with fludarabine.