Perinatal Listeriosis: A Population-Based Multicenter Study in Barcelona, Spain (1990-1996)

Juan Nolla-Salas; Jordi Bosch; Isabel Gasser; Luis Viñas; Mercè de Simon; Manuel Almela; Cristina Latorre; Pere Coll; Maria Dolors Ferrer

doi:10.1055/s-2007-994067

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 1998; 15(8): 461-467
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994067

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Perinatal Listeriosis: A Population-Based Multicenter Study in Barcelona, Spain (1990-1996)

Juan Nolla-Salas¹ , Jordi Bosch³ , Isabel Gasser⁴ , Luis Viñas⁵ , Mercè de Simon² , Manuel Almela⁶ , Cristina Latorre⁷ , Pere Coll⁸ , Maria Dolors Ferrer²

¹Intensive Care Unit, Hospital del Mar, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
²Laboratori Municipal, Ajuntament de Barcelona; and Services of Clinical Microbiology, Barcelona, Spain
³Hospital Casa de la Maternitat, University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
⁴Hospital Vail d'Hebró, University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
⁵Institut Dexeus, University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
⁶Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
⁷Hospital de Sant Joan de Deu, University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
⁸Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The aim off this study was to describe the incidence, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcome of perinatal listeriosis for a 7-year period (1990-1996) based on data of an active population-based surveillance project implemented in the city of Barcelona, Spain. There were 30 cases (20.8%) associated with pregnancy (15 pregnant women, 13 neonates, and 2 fetal deaths). The incidence of perinatal listeriosis varied from 4.1 to 0 per 10,000 live births. The proportion of perinatal cases in relation to the total number of cases of listeriosis varied between 0 and 42%. Early-onset neonatal sepsis accounted for 12 of 13 live births. The mean age of infected pregnant women with listeriosis was 30.1 ± 2.0 years. Chorioamnionitis was the predominant clinical form (86.7%). Only two mothers had primary bacteremia by L. monocytogenes in the second trimester of pregnancy. Both infants were born healthy, without signs of infection. One of these mothers was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since January 1994, 12 strains were available for serotyping and phagotyping; 9 belonged to serovar 4b, 2 to serovar 1/2b, and 1 to serovar 1/2a. No outbreaks of L. monocytogenes infection occurred during the study period. The overall neonatal mortality rate was 7.7% among infected live births. All pregnant women were treated with ampicillin and none died. Early antenatal treatment with ampicillin improves neonatal outcome and can result in the birth of healthy babies.

Keywords

Perinatal listeriosis - Listeria monocytogenes - population-based study - ampicillin

Full Text