[Listeria meningoencephalitis in a 2-year-old boy]

We report the unusual case of a two year old boy with encephalomeningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes. The patient was hospitalized with the classical signs of severe bacterial meningitis. The microbiological investigations gave proof of Listeria monocytogenes as causative agent 36 hours later. Antibiotic treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin resulted in a prompt improvement of the boy's condition. The boy was discharged four weeks later.