Meningitis and bacteraemia due to Listeria monocytogenes in compromised hosts

The clinical history of 3 adult patients infected by Listeria monocytogenes is presented. One patient with chronic lymphatic leukaemia developed purulent meningitis; the 2 others had chronic renal failure and were undergoing routine haemodialysis. Of the latter, one developed meningitis and the other bacteraemia after receiving 2 blood transfusions. Immuno-suppression, or the underlying disease of the hosts, probably played a role in permitting the infection to establish itself. The rural environment may also have been conducive to the transfer of this particular, rarely infectious, micro-organism to these patients.