[Early onset neonatal septicemia caused by Listeria monocytogenes]

Listeria monocytogenes can cause sepsis and meningitis during the neonatal period. Six cases of early onset neonatal sepsis caused by Listeria monocytogenes are reported here. These cases were diagnosed in a private hospital at Santiago, Chile from December 1984 throughout November 1986. The incidence rate was 1.4 x 1,000 liveborns. Clinical findings included prematurity (6), meconium stained amniotic fluid (6), hepatomegaly (6), splenomegaly (6), maculopapular exanthem (4), anal prolapse (3) and meningitis (1). Additionally 5 patients developed respiratory distress and 4 required ventilatory support. Overall mortality was 50% (3/6). All deaths were related to respiratory failure and occurred during the first week of disease. All patients received ampicillin and amikacin early in the course of their infection. Listeriosis of the newborn infant might be preventable by prompt recognition and treatment of maternal infections. Since Listeria infection in pregnancy is usually mild and symptoms and signs are nonspecific, prevention may be difficult. Pregnant women with fever of no clear origin or with an influenza like syndrome should be screened for listeriosis with cultures from blood, vagina and cervix samples.