History

Consider listeriosis in cases of neonatal sepsis or meningitis and in cases of sepsis or meningitis in children who are immunocompromised.

Listeria is acquired by ingestion of contaminated food products.
Mothers who acquire Listeria may experience influenzalike illnesses, with headache, malaise, fever, backache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills. Mothers with Listeria infections may also undergo premature labor.^[13]
Listeria in newborns can be classified as early onset or late-onset infection.
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is common in newborns with early onset Listeria.
Respiratory difficulty is common, including a history of cyanotic episodes, rapid breathing, and grunting.
Parents and health care providers may report poor feeding and fever.

Physical Examination

Listeriosis presents in the same manner as other more common neonatal pathogens, such as group B streptococci and Escherichia coli.

Respiratory distress - Tachypnea, grunting, apnea, and retractions
Temperature instability
Poor feeding
Lethargy/irritability
Seizures
Granulomatosis infantisepticum
- Erythematous rash
- Small, pale nodules or granulomas

Differential Diagnoses

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Rogalla D, Bomar PA. Listeria Monocytogenes. 2022 Jan. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Imanishi M, Routh JA, Klaber M, Gu W, Vanselow MS, Jackson KA, et al. Estimating the attack rate of pregnancy-associated listeriosis during a large outbreak. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2015. 2015:201479. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Khsim IEF, Mohanaraj-Anton A, Horte IB, et al. Listeriosis in pregnancy: An umbrella review of maternal exposure, treatment and neonatal complications. BJOG. 2022 Aug. 129 (9):1427-33. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Barton Behravesh C, Jones TF, Vugia DJ, Long C, Marcus R, Smith K, et al. Deaths associated with bacterial pathogens transmitted commonly through food: foodborne diseases active surveillance network (FoodNet), 1996-2005. J Infect Dis. 2011 Jul. 204(2):263-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food - 10 states, 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010 Apr 16. 59(14):418-22. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Preliminary FoodNet Data on the incidence of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food--10 States, 2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Apr 10. 58(13):333-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Derra FA, Karlsmose S, Monga DP, Mache A, Svendsen CA, Félix B, et al. Occurrence of Listeria spp. in Retail Meat and Dairy Products in the Area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2013 Jun 6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Muñoz AI. [Distribution of Listeria monocytogenes serotypes isolated from foods, Colombia, 2000-2009]. Biomedica. 2012 Sep. 32(3):408-17. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Okada Y, Ohnuki I, Suzuki H, Igimi S. Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated ready-to-eat foods in Japan. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2013 Apr 29. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
[Guideline] Committee on Obstetric Practice, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 614: Management of pregnant women with presumptive exposure to Listeria monocytogenes. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Dec. 124 (6):1241-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
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Lamont RF, Sobel J, Mazaki-Tovi S, Kusanovic JP, Vaisbuch E, Kim SK, et al. Listeriosis in human pregnancy: a systematic review. J Perinat Med. 2011 May. 39(3):227-36. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Gaschignard J, Levy C, Romain O, Cohen R, Bingen E, Aujard Y, et al. Neonatal Bacterial Meningitis: 444 Cases in 7 Years. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Mar. 30(3):212-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Guevara RE, Mascola L, Sorvillo F. Risk factors for mortality among patients with nonperinatal listeriosis in Los Angeles County, 1992-2004. Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Jun 1. 48(11):1507-15. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Dilber E, Aksoy A, Cakir M, Bahat E, Kamasak T, Dilber B. Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in two immunocompetent children. Ann Trop Paediatr. 2009 Sep. 29(3):225-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Listeria (Listeriosis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/faq.html. December 12, 2016; Accessed: January 9, 2018.
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Smith B, Kemp M, Ethelberg S, Schiellerup P, Bruun BG, Gerner-Smidt P, et al. Listeria monocytogenes: maternal-foetal infections in Denmark 1994-2005. Scand J Infect Dis. 2009. 41(1):21-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Gillespie IA, McLauchlin J, Little CL, Penman C, Mook P, Grant K, et al. Disease presentation in relation to infection foci for non-pregnancy-associated human listeriosis in England and Wales, 2001 to 2007. J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Oct. 47(10):3301-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
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Media Gallery

Electron micrograph of an artificially-colored Listeria bacterium in tissue.

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Author

Terence Zach, MD Professor, Department Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine

Terence Zach, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ann L Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University School of Medicine; Medical Director, NICU, Nebraska Medical Center

Ann L Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Nebraska Medical Association, Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Larry I Lutwick, MD, FACP Editor-in-Chief, ID Cases; Moderator, Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine

Larry I Lutwick, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Infectious Diseases Society of New York, International Society for Infectious Diseases, New York Academy of Sciences, Veterans Affairs Society of Practitioners in Infectious Diseases

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD Clinical Professor, Tulane University School of Medicine; Staff Physician, Ochsner Clinic Foundation

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Leonard R Krilov, MD Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and International Adoption, Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Winthrop University Hospital; Professor of Pediatrics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine

Leonard R Krilov, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Listeria Infection Clinical Presentation

History

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