Obstetric Short Communication Carriage of Listeria monocytogenes in pregnant women

Abstract

The faecal and vaginal carriage rates of Listeria monocytogenes in 500 and 1365 pregnant women, respectively, were investigated. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the faeces of eight pregnant women (1–6 per cent), but not from any of the high vaginal swabs. The results' indicated that the carriage of Listeria monocytogenes in the faeces is unlikely to pose a source of contamination of the vagina.