Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
05:02
Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
Published on: October 2, 2018
[Listeriosis - four case reports]
J Pazderková1, P Dlouhý, M Stolbová
1Infekcní oddelení, Masarykova nemocnice v Ustí nad Labem. jana.pazderkova@mnul.cz
Klinicka Mikrobiologie a Infekcni Lekarstvi
|September 30, 2008
Summary
This study reports four cases of Listeria infection, primarily meningitis and sepsis, in patients over 55 during a 2006/2007 outbreak. Early diagnostic tests were negative, highlighting the importance of blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures for accurate Listeria diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Listeria infection outbreaks pose significant public health challenges, particularly in vulnerable populations.
- Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and management of Listeria infections.
Observation:
- Four cases of Listeria infection were observed during an epidemic outbreak in 2006/2007.
- Patients were hospitalized with purulent meningitis (3 cases) or sepsis (1 case), all over 55 years old.
- Initial diagnostic methods including direct microscopy, latex agglutination, and PCR on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were negative in meningitis cases.
Findings:
- Blood and CSF cultures confirmed Listeria infection 3-4 days post-collection, establishing the final diagnosis.
- None of the patients presented with diarrhea, a common symptom of listeriosis.
- Successful treatment was achieved using ampicillin and chloramphenicol.
Implications:
- The study underscores the limitations of rapid diagnostic tests for Listeria meningitis and emphasizes the critical role of blood and CSF cultures.
- Findings highlight the need for heightened surveillance and diagnostic vigilance for Listeria, especially in elderly and potentially immunocompromised individuals.
- Effective treatment regimens involving ampicillin and chloramphenicol were demonstrated, offering valuable therapeutic insights.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
01:18Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...
01:24Plague
Plague is a highly virulent zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccobacillus. This pathogen primarily circulates among rodent populations and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Additional transmission routes include direct contact with infected animal tissue or inhalation of respiratory droplets from individuals with pneumonic plague. These multiple transmission pathways highlight the bacterium’s potential for rapid...