A case of listeriosis of the newborn.

Summary An atypical case of perinatal infection with Listeria monocytogenes is described, in which the main pathological feature was a congenital bronchopneumonia. The membranes were intact until just before delivery, and death occurred within 2 hr of birth, but well-established changes were present in the lungs, placenta and mediastinal lymph-nodes, which showed a “monocytoid” reaction. The organism was isolated from both mother and baby and was found to belong to serotype 4b.