A Pilot Study For The Detection Of Listeria In Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples From Children And Adults With Signs Of Meningitis Admitted In A Tertiary Care Hospital At Piparia Village, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Introduction: Human listeriosis (HL) is a foodborne illness causing life-threatening disease of fetus, neonates, elderly, and others with immunosuppression. It is a public health concern because of the severity of disease. Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) has a predilection for central nervous system and placenta. Aims: To culture, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with special focus on the isolation of Lm. Materials and Methods: A prospective study on CSF samples with special focus on the identification of Lm by direct microscopy (wet film, Gramstain) and culture on sheep blood agar and a plate of Listeria selective agar (Himedia). Results: 121 CSF samples were processed. Lm was isolated from blood and CSF samples from 8-day-old male neonate admitted with signs of septicemia and meningitis. The isolate was identified using Vitek 2 Compact; Biomerieux. The newborn was fed with goat milk on the 1st day after birth. Conclusions: As against the global focus on HL, documented cases from India are limited. The reasons and difficulties for poor isolation and diagnosis of Lm infections are discussed. Our single patient of neonatal meningitis as a case of community-acquired HL in our area is of significance.