Listeria infection of silicone breast implant.

A case of breast implant infection with L. monocytogenes is presented. The nature of this organism, its usual mode of transmission, and factors predisposing to the development of listeriosis are reviewed. We speculate that, in this case, the organism was acquired during a natural period of depressed immunity due to pregnancy, and it initiated a low-grade infection around the breast prosthesis. Possible implications of this scenario are discussed.