Neonatal listeriosis: an cause of neonatal sepsis

Publication date: Available online 28 January 2019Source: Current Medicine Research and PracticeAuthor(s): Gunjan Mishra, Aakriti Soni, Arun Soni, Satish Saluja, Manoj Modi, Jaswinder Kaur OberoiAbstractAlthough Listeria is an uncommon cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis, perinatal listerial infection is the most common clinical syndrome caused by this organism. Foodborne outbreaks associated with consumption of dairy products and processed meat have been known in the past. Infected mother may present with flu-like symptoms, and premature labor and still births are known to occur in perinatal listeriosis. Neonates may acquire the infection either transplacentally or by aspiration of infected amniotic fluid. Early-onset infection is associated with overwhelming sepsis and high risk of mortality. High proportion of late-onset infection presents with meningitis. Ampicillin in combination with an aminoglycoside is the preferred treatment for neonatal listeriosis. It should be kept as a part of the differential diagnosis while investigating for neonatal sepsis. Preliminary reports of gram-positive rods may help in making a presumptive diagnosis of listeriosis.
Source: Current Medicine Research and Practice - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research