Well-known but rare pathogen in neonates: Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a very important life-threatening bacteria in certain risk groups such as neonates, pregnant women, elderly people, transplant recipients and others with impaired cell-mediated immunity. However, its infections are very rare in healthy children. Reports of listeriosis in newborn period are limited. We report a case of neonatal listeriosis with erythematous rash, intractable convulsions, severe early neonatal sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. Although an empirical antibiotic therapy including ampicillin (semisentetic penicillin) and aminoglycoside combination is effective by the means of a probable Listeria infection, the progression of the very early-onset disease may be fatal, despite vigorous treatment efforts as in our case.