"CNS infection with Listeria monocytogenes, classically presenting as listeria rhombencephalitis, results from infection with Listeria monocytogenes, a motile facultative anaerobic bacterium. It is cited as the most common aetiology for rhombencephalitis, typically seen in the elderly, and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality but the involvement of the rest of the central nervous system, particularly in immunocompromised individuals."
"The majority of listerial rhombencephalitis cases occur in previously healthy adults who develop infection with Listeria monocytogenes 2,3. Rhomboencaphalitis develops in approximately 17% of patients with listeriosis 7."
"Listeria monocytogenes is an anaerobic and gram-positive bacillus found commonly in animal and human faeces and in the soil and thus also in food and water 5."
Expected headings
"CSF"
"The prodrome lasts one to two weeks and results from systemic listeria infection. Patients experience fatigue, fevers, nausea and vomiting 7. Due to the non-specific nature of these symptoms, patients are often misdiagnosed 1-3."
"Subcortical abscesses in the thalamus, pons and medulla are common in rhombencephalitis caused by this bacteria, due to the aforementioned retrograde infection along cranial nerves 2,3,5,6."
"Patients with rhombencephalitis later develop a spectrum of symptoms due to brainstem involvement, such as multiple cranial nerve palsies (occur in ~75% of all cases) or cerebellar deficits, long-tract motor and/or sensory deficits, ataxia, nystagmus, vertigo, facial numbness, dysphagia, persistent hiccupping, and respiratory failure (~41%) 3."