Successful antepartum treatment of listeriosis.

A pregnant patient had a flulike illness at 27 weeks. Listeria monocytogenes infection was diagnosed by blood cultures. Electronic monitoring suggested the fetus was stressed. Use of tocolytics inhibited uterine contractions while the mother was treated with intravenous ampicillin. Four days later when labor began because of chorioamnionitis, the infant was delivered in good condition.