title: A case of meningoencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a healthy child.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative anaerobic, gram-positive bacillus that is isolated from the soil, vegetables, and wild or domestic animals. Listeria occurs predominantly in the elderly, immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and newborns. Infections by this microorganism are rare in healthy infants and children. L. monocytogenes may cause meningitis, meningoencephalitis, brain abscess, pyogenic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and liver abscesses in children. The course of meningoencephalitis by listeria is often severe and even fatal. Acute hydrocephalus can develop as a complication and the mortality associated with listeriosis is significantly high. We present a case of meningoencephalitis caused by L. monocytogenes in a previously healthy 7-year-old girl.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won Kyoung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chan Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jin Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Byung Kyu
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Suh