Listeria meningitis in an immunocompetent child

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, motile bacillus widely spread in the environment. However, clinical infection in humans is uncommon. The route of infection is often through ingestion of raw vegetables, meat and unpasteurised dairy products. Listeria is an uncommon cause of meningitis in immunocompetent individuals, but it should be considered strongly in neonates and the elderly, and it should also be considered in those with impaired cell-mediated immunity. ^{1 , 2} Only a few case reports of invasive listeriosis in humans have been reported from India. ^{3 - 8} In our case, a 13-year-old previously healthy boy was thus diagnosed.