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Maternal Listeriosis Presenting With Suspected Meningitis in Late Pregnancy: A Case Report

Nathallie George1, Dominique Marshall2

  • 1Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, GBR.

Cureus
|December 24, 2025
PubMed

Maternal listeriosis is uncommon but clinically important due to the risk of severe maternal illness and adverse perinatal outcomes. Nonspecific symptoms often overlap with viral and respiratory illnesses, delaying diagnosis. We describe the case of a 28-year-old gravida 4 para 2+1 at 29+5 weeks who presented with fever, frontal headache, photophobia, and generalized myalgias. Significant medical history included asthma, chronic hypertension, chronic hepatitis B and C carriage, and a sickle cell variant. Blood cultures grew Listeria monocytogenes. She was treated with intravenous amoxicillin and gentamicin after initial empiric therapy. Despite concern for central nervous system involvement, brain MRI revealed no intracranial pathology. She transitioned to benzylpenicillin for outpatient therapy and achieved complete recovery. A healthy infant was delivered by emergency caesarean section at 39+1 weeks. Maternal listeriosis can closely mimic common viral illnesses. Thus, maintaining a high index of suspicion, especially in pregnant women with nonspecific febrile symptoms, can facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment, which is essential to optimising maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Keywords:
antibiotic therapybaterial meningitisfetal riskslisteria monocytogeneslisteriosismaternal sepsis

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