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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
Published on: October 2, 2018
[Rhombencephalitis due to Listeria monocytogenes]
M H den Hertog1, C W Ang, D W J Dippel
1Erasmus MC-Centrum, Postbus 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam. m.denhertog@erasmusmc.nl
Abstract:
A 37-year-old man presented with acute dizziness, nausea, headache and fever. Later on, he developed diplopia, swallowing difficulties, numbness and ataxia. MRI on day 6 showed hypo-intense, contrast-enhancing lesions on TI-weighted scans in the brainstem and cerebellum. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings on day 6 included pleiocytosis, a mildly-elevated protein level and mildly-decreased glucose level. CSF and blood cultures were initially negative for both bacteria and viruses. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was suspected and dexamethasone therapy was started. On day 26, a blood culture was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The diagnosis 'Listeria rhombencephalitis' was made and the patient was treated with amoxicillin. This resulted in good recovery. In patients with a subacute onset of progressive cranial nerve dysfunction, ataxia, CSF pleiocytosis, and MRI lesions in the brainstem and cerebellum, Listeria rhombencephalitis should be considered. Early diagnosis and treatment improve the prognosis.
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