Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an immunocompetent adult: a case report

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Yi Zhang, Guo-Qing Zang, Zheng-Hao Tang, Yong-Sheng Yu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2012
• Subjects: Listeria monocytogenes; Meningite; Adultos imunocompetentes; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822012000300028; https://doaj.org/article/f8562373205c48cdb9db396e733388b2

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is an uncommon cause of bacterial meningitis in immunocompetent adults. Patients with immunosuppression are at increased risk of developing serious invasive diseases, particularly meningitis. We describe a case of meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes in an immunocompetent and previously healthy 34-year-old adult. The patient received treatment with intravenous ampicillin plus amikacin and made a full recovery. L. monocytogenes should be suspected in immunocompetent adults with bacterial meningitis who fail to respond to empirical antibiotic treatment.