Pediatria pre prax 3/2015

Known but rare pathogen in the newborn: Listeria monocytogenes

Listeriosis is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by listeria, which has a variable clinical picture. Of seven existing species of Listeria, two species – Listeria monocytogenesand Listeria ivanovii– affect human, but most of infections is caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Although neonatal listeriosis is a relatively rare disease, it is serious with a high mortality. Neonatal listeriosis is classified as early and late, depending on the onset of symptoms of infection. 15,043 newborns were born in the period 2004 – 2014 at the University Hospital Nove Zamky, Clinic of Neontology. During this period, we have seen two cases of early neonatal sepsis caused by L. monocytogenes. The incidence of neonatal listeriosis in the Clinic of Neontology University Hospital Nove Zamky, is 0.13 per 1,000 live births. In one child with early onset neonatal listeriosis occurred serious complications – intraventricular hemorrhage with subsequent development of obstructive hydrocephalus. Another newborn has fully healed.

Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes, early sepsis, newborn.