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Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes
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Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes

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Brainstem Encephalitis Caused by Listeria monocytogenes

Pengxu Wei1,2, Ruixue Bao3, Yubo Fan1,2

  • 1School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, 37# Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 3, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes infections are increasing globally. This review details listerial brainstem encephalitis, a severe condition affecting healthy individuals, and proposes novel pathways for bacterial invasion.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • International outbreaks of *Listeria monocytogenes* are rising.
  • Listerial brainstem encephalitis (rhombencephalitis) affects healthy individuals and is difficult to diagnose early.
  • This condition has high mortality and significant sequelae in survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical manifestations, pathology, MRI findings, diagnosis, and treatment of listerial brainstem encephalitis.
  • To propose potential pathways for *L. monocytogenes* brainstem invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical cases and proposed mechanisms.
  • Analysis of diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies.

Main Results:

  • *Listeria monocytogenes* can cause severe brainstem encephalitis.
  • The trigeminal and vagus nerves are proposed as routes of infection.
  • Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are crucial for reducing severity.

Conclusions:

  • Listerial brainstem encephalitis requires prompt recognition and management.
  • Understanding novel invasion pathways can aid in early diagnosis and prevention.

Keywords:
Listeria monocytogenesMRIbrainstem encephalitisvagus nerve

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