Listeria monocytogenes, a worldwide pathogen, causes significant perinatal mortality and
morbidity and has been implicated in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, premature delivery,
and neonatal sepsis, often with meningitis. Maternal symptoms are frequently minimal, and
diagnosis is made only if the suspicion is high and diagnostic maternal blood or amniotic
fluid cultures are performed. Because cultures are not routinely performed on spontaneously
aborted fetuses, many authors feel that the true incidence of the disease may be …