The central nervous system involvement in listeria monocytogenes infection (clinical case)

Abstract

Introduction. This report of Listeria monocytogenes infection with the involvment of central nervous system is important due to the increased frequency either in adults or children as well as the usually severe course and high mortality in generalized forms, especially with the CNS involvement. The demonstration of this clinical case, especialy the features of structural changes in the CNS with MRI in the disease’s dynamics, reflects the complexity of differential diagnosis and the evaluation of therapy effectiveness.Purpose of the study. To present a clinical case of CNS lesion in a 7-year-old child, the causative factor of which was listeria infection, with a detailed description of structural changes in the CNS using MRI studies.Material and methods. There is a clinical observation of a patient (child) with a diagnosis of listeriosis, secondary generalized form, extremely severe clinical course, with lesions of the central nervous system (meningoencephalitis). A series of magnetic resonance imaging studies of the brain in dynamics against the background of treatment are analyzed. Structural changes were assessed using multiparameter MRI of the brain using the following modes: T1-weighted, T2-weighted, Flair, T1-weighted with contrast, diffusionweighted and diffusion tensor imaging (DWI / DTI), susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), MR perfusion, MR angiography.Results. The revealed structural changes in the brain during dynamic MRI examination, as well as their correlation with the data of anamnesis and clinical and laboratory data, made it possible to confirm meningoencephalitis, as well as to evaluate and make adjustments to the treatment.Conclusion. The described clinical case, the features of the course of the disease and MRI changes, suggest that dynamic MRI research is of great importance in identifying and assessing (including dynamics) structural changes in the brain substance in patients with neurological disorders in infectious diseases. The obtained data can be used by the attending physicians to assess and correct the ongoing therapy, to determine the required amount of rehabilitation.