Yu-Ching Huang a, Kuan-Hung Lin b, c, Wen-Long Tsao b
aDepartment of Neurology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
bDepartment of Neurology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
cInstitute of Neuroscience, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Abstract
Listeria (L.) monocytogenes infection of the central nervous system is often seen in patients with underlying diseases or immunocompromised status. We report a 60-year-old immunocompetent woman who presented with progressively intermittent headache for 3 weeks. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed leptomeningeal enhancement on T1-weighted imaging. Cerebrospinal fluid culture showed L. monocytogenes. Dairy products containing yeast (which she has made daily at home for years) and undercooked vegetables (which she harvested and ate daily) may have been the sources of the L. monocytogenes infection. Therefore, we note that a diet of natural raw food may cause outbreaks or sporadic cases of listeriosis. The patient recovered completely after 6 weeks of treatment with ampicillin.
Keywords
Homemade dairy products; Listeria (L.) monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Sporadic listeria meningitis; Vital diet
