(See also Gram-Positive Bacilli: Listeriosis.)

Neonatal listeriosis is acquired transplacentally or during or after delivery. Symptoms are those of sepsis. Diagnosis is by culture of mother and infant. Treatment is antibiotics, initially ampicillin plus an aminoglycoside.

Transplacental infection with Listeria monocytogenes can result in fetal dissemination with granuloma formation (eg, in the skin, liver, adrenal glands, lymphatic tissue, lungs, and brain). If a rash is present, it is referred to as granulomatosis infantisepticum. Aspiration or swallowing of amniotic fluid or vaginal secretions can lead to perinatal infection of the lungs, manifesting in the first several days of life with respiratory distress, shock, and a fulminant course.

Symptoms and Signs

Infections in pregnant women may be asymptomatic or characterized by a primary bacteremia manifesting first as a nonspecific flu-like illness.

In the fetus and neonate, clinical presentation depends on the timing and route of infection. Abortion, premature delivery with amnionitis (with a characteristic brown, murky amniotic fluid), stillbirth, or neonatal sepsis is common. Infection may be apparent within hours or days of birth (early onset) or it may be delayed up to several weeks. Neonates with early-onset disease frequently are of low birth weight, have associated obstetric complications, and show evidence of sepsis with circulatory or respiratory insufficiency or both. Those with the delayed-onset form are full-term, previously healthy neonates presenting with meningitis or sepsis.

Diagnosis

• Culture of blood and cervix of febrile pregnant woman
• Culture of blood, CSF, gastric aspirate, and meconium of sick neonate

Blood and cervix specimens should be obtained from any pregnant woman with an unexplained febrile disease and cultured for L. monocytogenes. A sick neonate whose mother has listeriosis should be evaluated for sepsis (see Infections in Neonates: Neonatal Sepsis), including cultures of umbilical cord or peripheral blood; the CSF, gastric aspirate, and meconium; the mother's lochia and exudates from cervix and vagina; and grossly diseased parts of the placenta. CSF examination may show a predominance of mononuclear cells. Gram-stained smears frequently are negative but may show pleomorphic, gram-variable coccobacillary forms, which should not be disregarded as diphtheroid contaminants. Laboratory confirmation of the organism involves biochemical testing and observation of motility using a slide test or showing motility in semisolid media. To do the slide test, colonies of the organism that have grown on solid media are mixed with saline and examined under a microscope.L. monocytogenes exhibits a distinctive end-over-end “tumbling” motility due to the presence of flagella at both ends. Serologic tests are not useful.

Prognosis

Mortality, ranging from 10 to 50%, is higher in neonates with early-onset disease.

Treatment

• Initially ampicillinSome Trade Names
  OMNIPEN
  PRINCIPEN
  Click for Drug Monograph
  plus an aminoglycoside

Initial treatment is with ampicillinSome Trade Names
OMNIPEN
PRINCIPEN
Click for Drug Monograph
plus an aminoglycoside (see also Bacteria and Antibacterial Drugs: Aminoglycosides). After clinical response is observed, the aminoglycoside is stopped. A 14-day course is usually satisfactory (21 days for meningitis), but the optimal duration is unknown. Other possible drugs include ampicillinSome Trade Names
OMNIPEN
PRINCIPEN
Click for Drug Monograph
or penicillin with rifampinSome Trade Names
RIFADIN
RIMACTANE
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, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazoleSome Trade Names
BACTRIM
SEPTRA
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, and imipenem, but they have not been well evaluated.

Neonates with sepsis require other measures (see Infections in Neonates: Treatment). In heavy infection, drainage/secretion precautions may be considered.

Prevention

Food products that may be contaminated by L. monocytogenes (eg, unpasteurized dairy products or raw vegetables exposed to cattle or sheep manure) should be avoided by pregnant women. If infection during pregnancy is recognized, treatment may then be given before delivery or intrapartum to prevent vertical transmission, but the usefulness of such treatment is unproved.

Last full review/revision October 2009 by Mary T. Caserta, MD

Content last modified February 2012