[Listeria monocytogenes liver abscess. In a diabetic patient]

Most liver abscesses are caused by Enterobacteriaceae, sometimes associated with anaerobes. Listeriosis is an exceptional cause of liver abscess, usually in a context of disseminated infections. We report the case of a diabetic woman who had liver abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes. The organism was isolated after guided needle aspiration, and there was no other site of infection. The course of the disease gradually moved towards recovery under an antibiotic therapy that was based on sensitivity tests. A search for immunodeficiency proved negative. A review of the literature showed that the rare cases of listerial liver abscess share a common factor, diabetes mellitus, the importance of which has not yet been noticed.