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Listeriosis usually affects immunocompromised patients including elderly people and pregnant women, but it may also affect otherwise healthy individuals. In our report, we present a case of a rare and very severe form of listeriosis-rhombencephalitis in a 61-year-old female with no history of immunosuppression, who, because of history, clinical picture, and laboratory results as well as negative cultures, was at first diagnosed with viral encephalitis. This paper underlines that Listeria monocytogenes infection should be taken into consideration in case of lymphocytic encephalitis even in immunocompetent patients. Typical MRI picture may be crucial in establishing a proper diagnosis as the lab results may be misleading.

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Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the pulmonary function tests (PFT) in COVID-19 convalescents six months after recovery. Additionally, the research question was whether PFT should be performed routinely in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods: A total of 39 patients with a history of COVID-19 6 months prior to the study were included in the study (Group I). Individuals were hospitalized or treated in the outpatients department. The control group (Group II) consisted of 39 healthy patients without a COVID-19 history. Each subject completed a questionnaire interview and underwent laboratory and pulmonary function examinations. Results: Six months after COVID-19 recovery, patients mainly complained about cough (46%, n = 18), shortness of breath (23%, n = 9), weakness (13%, n = 5), and memory/concentration disorders (8%, n = 3). In the group of patients complaining of persistent cough present 6 months after COVID-19, the following PFT parameters were decreased: FEV1, FVC, FRC, TLC, and DLCO (p < 0.05) in comparison with patients without this symptom. Conclusions: Persistent shortness of breath is not necessarily associated with pulmonary function impairment in patients 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and hence it requires appropriate differential diagnosis. Patients with a cough persisting 6 months after the acute phase of COVID-19 may benefit from PFT.

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