title: Pleural-pulmonary aspects of Listeria monocytogenes infection.
abstract: The most common forms of Listeria monocytogenes infection in adults are meningitis-encephalitis and sepsis. Infection of the pulmonary parenchyma and pleura have rarely been reported. A case of listeria meningitis presenting with pleural space infection in an immunosuppressed patient is presented and a review of 5 additional patients with listeria infection of the respiratory tract is included. All 6 patients described in this report had L. monocytogenes infections presenting with respiratory tract symptomatology, although 4 patients subsequently had positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. It is emphasized that a culture report of 'diphtheroids' from a thoracentesis specimen should not be automatically dismissed as contamination, particularly in an immune compromised patient.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications