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Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
05:02

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain

Published on: October 2, 2018

Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an immunocompetent adult: a case report

Yi Zhang1, Guo-Qing Zang, Zheng-Hao Tang

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical
|July 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of meningitis in healthy adults. This case highlights the importance of considering this pathogen in immunocompetent individuals with bacterial meningitis unresponsive to standard treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is an uncommon pathogen causing bacterial meningitis, particularly in immunocompetent adults.
  • Immunosuppression significantly increases the risk of invasive L. monocytogenes infections, including meningitis.

Observation:

  • A case study of a previously healthy, immunocompetent 34-year-old adult diagnosed with L. monocytogenes meningitis is presented.
  • The patient presented with symptoms indicative of bacterial meningitis.

Findings:

  • The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ampicillin and amikacin.
  • Full recovery was achieved following the specified antibiotic regimen.

Implications:

  • Listeria monocytogenes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in immunocompetent adults.
  • Failure to respond to empirical antibiotic therapy warrants reevaluation and consideration of less common pathogens like L. monocytogenes.

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