Summary.

Neonatal listeriosis is rare and detecting more than one case together would be unlikely without a causal link. Thirty-five instances of neonatal listeriosis where cross-infection occurred in the UK and Ireland were reviewed together with 29 other similar episodes reported elsewhere. All instances comprised an infant who was ill at or within one day of delivery and who had direct or indirect contact with a second infant, or in the minority, two or more infants, who then usually developed meningitis 6 to 12 days later. In most instances the infants were nursed on the same day in obstetric units or new-born nurseries and consequently, staff and equipment were common: hence direct or indirect neonate to neonate was the likely route of transmission. In one instance, a stethoscope was used on both infants nursed in different parts of the same hospital. In a further incident, the mother of the earlyonset infant cuddled a baby from an adjacent bed who developed meningitis 12 days later. The largest outbreak occurred in Costa Rica where nine neonatal listeriosis cases resulted after bathing in mineral-oil shortly after birth which had been contaminated from the early-onset index case.

Key results
 Neonatal cross-infection due to Listeria monocytogenes was reviewed 
  64 instances were identified where an infant was ill at, or within, one day of delivery. 
  Direct or indirect contact occurred with a healthy second infant, or in the minority, two or more infants. 
The secondary cases usually developed meningitis 6 to 12 days later. 
  This report should act as a reminder of this complication of neonatal listeriosis.

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