Listeriosis in Pregnancy: A Rare but High-Risk Infection

Abstract

Listeriosis is a rare infection among the general population, with an estimated incidence in Europe of 0.49 cases per 100,000 habitants in 2021. During pregnancy, the incidence rises around ten times, peaking in the third trimester. While maternal consequences are usually mild, the potential for severe fetal and neonatal outcomes exists, leading to fetal loss, prematurity, neonatal sepsis, meningitis, and mortality. In the newborn, the clinical presentation and outcomes are associated with both gestational timing of infection and birth gestational age. We report a case of a pregnant woman with fever and nonspecific symptoms during the second trimester, leading to the diagnosis of Listeria bacteremia. We describe the steps for diagnostics, evolution, and complications and the importance of the differential diagnosis when evaluating pregnant patients.

Keywords: bacteriemia; fetal loss; listeria monocytogenes; pregnancy; prematurity.