Overview of neonatal listeriosis

Neonatal listeriosis accounts for the largest recognizable group of infections due to Listeria monocytogenes. Fetal wastage with early gestational infection is a recognized complication of maternal infection. Late gestational maternal infection or asymptomatic colonization may be associated with neonatal infection. Early-and late-onset clinical forms are recognized and the epidemiology, and clinical features of neonatal listeriosis resemble neonatal infections due to group B streptococci. The source of L. monocytogenes in most cases of neonatal listeriosis, particularly the late-onset form, remains obscure.