Korean J Pediatr.  2010 May;53(5):653-656. 10.3345/kjp.2010.53.5.653.

A case of meningoencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a healthy child

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. suhbk@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative anaerobic, gram-positive bacillus that is isolated from the soil, vegetables, and wild or domestic animals. Listeria occurs predominantly in the elderly, immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and newborns. Infections by this microorganism are rare in healthy infants and children. L. monocytogenes may cause meningitis, meningoencephalitis, brain abscess, pyogenic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and liver abscesses in children. The course of meningoencephalitis by listeria is often severe and even fatal. Acute hydrocephalus can develop as a complication and the mortality associated with listeriosis is significantly high. We present a case of meningoencephalitis caused by L. monocytogenes in a previously healthy 7-year-old girl.

Keyword

Listeria monocytogenes; Meningoencephalitis; complications; Hydrocephalus; Child

MeSH Terms

Aged
Animals, Domestic
Arthritis
Bacillus
Brain Abscess
Child
Female
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Immunocompromised Host
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes
Listeriosis
Liver Abscess
Meningitis
Meningoencephalitis
Osteomyelitis
Pregnant Women
Soil
Vegetables
Soil
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