Listeriosis infection in pregnant women and children (literature review and case observations)

Abstract

Summary.Listeriosis is classified among highly hazardous infectious diseases. The infection predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals, particularly neonates and pregnant women, in whom it frequently manifests with severe central nervous system (CNS) involvement, including meningitis, meningoencephalitis, or brain abscess, and may culminate in recovery with disabling neurological sequelae or death.Objective. To emphasize the clinical significance of listeriosis, delineate its major clinical manifestations, and present contemporary diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, integrating data from the literature with the authors’ own clinical observations.Materials and Methods. A comprehensive literature review on listeriosis in pregnant women and children was conducted, supplemented by a case report of congenital listeriosis in a neonate whose infection originated from a mother with subclinical disease. Bacteriological examination confirmed Listeria monocytogenes in the cerebrospinal fluid. The clinical course was characterized by moderate systemic intoxication and meningoencephalitis complicated by hydrocephalus, which had been detected prenatally, pointing to intrauterine transmission. Listeria monocytogenes exhibited resistance to combination antibacterial therapy with ampicillin and gentamicin.Conclusions. Listeriosis presents with a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from mild infection to fulminant sepsis, with the highest risk associated with CNS involvement. Neonates and pregnant women represent the most vulnerable groups due to impaired host defenses. Evaluation for listeriosis should be considered in all neonates with CNS disease to enable timely diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy.