Janice had been experiencing mild flu-like symptoms before going into premature labor at seven months.The premature baby boy developed complications immediately after birth, running a fever and demonstrating neurologic abnormalities.A cerebrospinal fluid specimen was collected and a gram stain of the specimen showed short Gram-positive bacilli.The CSF culture grew small beta hemolytic colonies that were catalase positive.A CAMP test was positive on this isolate.The same organism grew from blood cultures done on the baby.What is the most likely identification?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms and laboratory findings suggest Listeria monocytogenes as the most likely identification. L. monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacillus that can cause flu-like symptoms in pregnant women and can be transmitted vertically to the fetus, resulting in sepsis and meningitis in neonates. The positive CAMP test indicates the presence of beta-hemolytic activity, which is characteristic of L. monocytogenes. Bacillus anthracis is a notorious bioterrorism agent and usually causes respiratory or cutaneous anthrax, but it does not cause neonatal sepsis. Streptococcus agalactiae is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis, but it is catalase-negative and does not produce beta-hemolytic colonies. Corynebacterium diphtheriae can cause respiratory diphtheria, but it also does not cause neonatal sepsis.

Janice Had Been Experiencing Mild Flu-Like Symptoms Before Going into Premature