[Neonatal listeriosis: third Spanish series on 45 observations (author's transl)]

During the period January'69-June'81, 45 cases of listeriosis in neonatal period were observed. 37 of them had an early onset (82%) while other eight had late infection disease (18%). Incidence was 1/6,346 newborns with most frequent presentation in spring. No epidemic forms or asymptomatic carriers were discovered. Perinatal, clinical, analytical, radiological, bacteriologic and pathological data are shown, emphasizing differences between the two clinical forms. Overall mortality of 43%, although brought to zero in the last six years, together with the same percentage of neurological sequela in the late form, urges for better knowledge of epidemiology and preventive measures, as well as a closer obstetric-neonatal relationship.