Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in a penicillin-allergic paediatric renal transplant patient

Currently in many centres the extended spectrum cephalosporins (e.g. cefotaxime and ceftriaxone) are being used empirically for patients with suspected bacterial meningitis. We present a ease of meningitis in a penicillin allergic paediatric renal transplant patient from whose cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Listeria monocytogenes was cultured, despite four days of cefotaxime therapy The patient was successfully treated with meropenem but required neuro-endoscopic intervention for hydrocephalus.