Meningitis Caused by Listeria Monocytogenes

Abstract

A 36 years old patient suspected of Meningitis epidemica was admitted in May, 1962 to infections section of Maruyama Branch of Sapporo-Municipal Hospital with the following signs and symptoms: fever 38.8°C, puls rate 98, respiration rate 23, head ache, moderate stiff-neck, slight acceleration of patellar reflex, inapparent Kernig's sign, neither motility nor sensibility disturbances nor pathologic reflexes.
Cerebrospinal fluid was slightly turbid with numerous eosinophilic polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Gram-negtive short bacilli were isolated from the fluid using cooked meat medium and blood agar medium. Biological characteristics of the isolated bacilli (Yamaho Strain) coincided in the main with those of Listeria Monocytogenes. Yamaho Strain was identified as Type I of L. m. by agglutination reaction and absorption test between the patient serum and the standard strain of L. m. and between the Yamaho strain and immun serum against standard stpain of L. m., respectively. Agglutination titer of the papient serum against Yamaho strain increased in thecourse of the disease.
The patient, treated by intramuscular injection of penicillin and chloramphenicol and peropal use of the latter was discharged from the hospital on the 25th day of the illness and recovered completely on the 38th day.