LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES INFECTIONS IN METROPOLITAN TORONTO - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

  • 1 January 1963
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (11) , 549-+
Abstract
The clinical and laboratory findings in 21 patients with listeriosis are described and the subject is reviewed. Eleven of the infections were septicemias of new borns, 8 were meningitis in infants or adults, and 2 other children had unusual manifestations. Neonatal septicemia was rapidly fatal; one of 11 infants survived. The disease often seemed traceable to mild maternal infection during the third trimester usually leading to premature delivery of critically ill babies. Only awareness of the possible presence of listeriosis and early antibiotic therapy seem capable of reducing this high mortality. Tissues from autopsies showed characteristic microscopic necrotic foci with mononuclear infiltration progressing to micro-abscesses containing small gram-positive rods. Lesions were found in the 1 placenta examined. Five infants with meningitis recovered, and 1 of 3 affected adults. Specific diagnosis depends on demonstrating Listeria monocytogenes; differentiation from other forms of acute meningitis cannot be made clinically. One older child had septicemia and another had listerial pharyngitis. Both recovered.