A life-devastating cause of gastroenteritis in an immunocompetent host: was it suspected?

A 44-year-old immunocompetent man with gastroenteritis received supportive care and empiric antibiotics. After an initial response, he developed septic shock. Blood cultures grew Gram-positive bacilli with antibiotic adjustment. However, he succumbed within 36 h. After the patient's death, Listeria monocytogenes was identified on blood culture.