Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a causative agent of listeriosis. Clinical manifestation of invasive listeriosis is usually sever and include sepsis and meningoencephalitis. Uterian infection in listeriosis depend on gestational age varies from preterm labour, delivery of infected neonate to abortion. The present study investigated the incidence and antibiograms of the organism in clinical samples were collected from women with spontaneous abortions in Iran. Clinical samples were collected from patients with spontaneous abortions hospitalized in Shariati hospital in Tehran during December 2009 and November 2010. Antibiogram was done by disk-agar method. L. monocytogeneswas isolated from 9 of 100 samples. Out of 9 isolates of L. monocytogenes 3 (16.66%),0 (0%), 1(4%), 3 (12%) and 2 (8%) were isolated from placental tissue, blood, urine, vaginal and rectal swabs respectively. Resistance to Penicillin G had the highest rate. Because of high incidence of L. monocytogenes in this study, in women with history of abortions or bad obstetric history, diagnosis procedures for detection of L. monocytogenes and on time treatment is recommended additionally because of high resistance rate of bacteria to Penicillin G in this study, antibacterial susceptibility before initiation of treatment is recommended.

Key words: Listeria monocytogenes, spontaneous abortion, antibiotic resistance.