The MICs and MBCs of 21 antimicrobial agents were determined for 103 strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated in the UK and 27 strains of other Listeria species. Ampicillin, penicillin, azlocillin, imipenem, gentamicin, netilmicin, amikacin, erythromycin, rifampicin, trimethoprim, clindamycin and vancomycin had good activity, while cephalothin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were less active, and cefuroxime, enoxacin, norfloxacin and fosfomycin were the least active. Tetracycline had good activity against many strains, but the MIC was high for some. Unlike the other Listeria species tested, Listeria ivanovii was susceptible to fosfomycin. Inoculum size and media employed were shown to affect the MBC, tryptose phosphate broth yielding higher MBCs than Mueller-Hinton or Isosensitest broths.