[Listeriosis and fertility (author's transl)]

The presence of Listeria monocytogenes is studied in 1112 women belonging to four different groups: healthy women with no pathological obstetric antecedents, women with pathological obstetric antecedents, sterile women, and women with neonates suffering from listeriosis. Investigation on Listeria monocytogenes was achieved in 512 cases from the endocervical cavity and in all cases from the vaginal exudate. We have obtained a total of 2.3% of positive results. The 25 isolations of Listeria monocytogenes correspond to women with macerated fetuses, dead during the birth or after the birth, or to women whose neonatus was diagnosed to have listeriosis. We have not obtained positive results in women with abortions or malformed fetuses. In the same way we have not objectified the relation between listeriosis and female sterility. The endocervical exudate provides 33% more isolations than the vaginal. The higher percentage of isolations is obtained within the first 10 days after birth.