Listeria monocytogenes prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis and in all of the four reported cases has occurred as a late complication. Bacteriologic cure of the infection has been obtained in all reported patients, using a standard regimen of either penicillin or penicillin and an aminoglycoside. The two deaths were associated with Starr-Edwards prostheses in the aortic position and have been attributed to embolic phenomena occurring after bacteriologic sterilization of the infected valve.