Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause the deadly infection listeriosis. Usually, ingesting contaminated food causes people to get listeriosis. Pregnant women, neonates, older persons, and those with compromised immune systems are the disease’s main targets. People from other groups rarely contract the Listeria infection and become ill.
Pregnant women typically only experience a minor case of listeriosis, but the fetus or newborn baby has serious illness as a result. Some individuals with Listeria infections experience severe infections of the bloodstream (producing sepsis) or brain, most frequently in adults 65 years of age and older and individuals with compromised immune systems (causing meningitis or encephalitis). Bones, joints, and locations in the chest and abdomen are just a few of the bodily components that listeria infections might occasionally affect.
General Discussion
Listeria monocytogenes, which mostly infects people through the ingestion of tainted food, is the cause of the uncommon but serious infectious disease known as listeriosis. Feverish gastroenteritis, invasive illness (sepsis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis), and prenatal infections leading to spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, premature labor, and neonatal sickness are clinical syndromes connected to listeriosis. About 20% of listeriosis infections result in death. Pregnant women, new babies, elderly people, and people with compromised immune systems are the groups most frequently affected by listeriosis. To prevent various serious complications, the condition must be promptly identified and treated.
Signs & Symptoms
There is a wide range of potential listeriosis symptoms. Bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), meningitis (infection of the meninges, the membrane enclosing the brain and spinal cord), or meningoencephalitis are the most common diagnoses for non-pregnant individuals (infection of the meninges and brain). Patients with bacteremia, meningitis, or meningoencephalitis frequently appear with symptoms like fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff necks, malaise, ataxia (loss of balance), convulsions, and changes in mental status like confusion. Clinical syndromes that are less frequent include endocarditis, which affects the lining of the heart, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, abscesses of the brain or liver, peritonitis, which affects the membranes lining the stomach cavity, and endopthalmitis (infection of structures within the eye). Secondary symptoms of these illnesses can include abdominal discomfort, bone pain, respiratory distress, pneumonia, and heart failure, depending on the anatomical site of infection. Investigations into outbreaks have shown that listeriosis can generate a noninvasive illness called febrile gastroenteritis in healthy people. Typical symptoms of febrile gastroenteritis include diarrhea, chills, lethargy, headache, nausea, and stomach discomfort.
Premature delivery, neonatal bacteremia, meningitis, and fetal loss (including spontaneous abortion and stillbirth) are all risks associated with listeriosis during pregnancy. Although listeriosis can happen at any point during pregnancy, it is most frequently found in the third trimester. Most of the pregnant women with listeriosis who sought medical attention only experienced minor flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, chills, muscle aches (myalgias), headaches, joint pain (arthralgia), and gastrointestinal discomfort. Some expectant mothers don’t remember experiencing any symptoms prior to their baby being diagnosed with listeriosis. Fetal and neonatal infections, in contrast to maternal sickness, are dangerous. In over one-fourth of pregnancy-related instances, the fetus or the baby dies. Neonatal listeriosis in infants can include fever, lethargy, irritability, diarrhea, poor feeding, vomiting, respiratory distress, or a recognizable skin rash with widely dispersed, tiny, pale nodules (granulomatosis infantiseptica). There are two types of neonatal listeriosis: early-onset and late-onset. The most frequent associations of early-onset newborn listeriosis with bacteremia or sepsis are within the first seven days of life. Early-onset infections accompany maternal bacteremia and are transmitted transplacentally prior to delivery. Meningitis is typically linked to late-onset newborn listeriosis. In late-onset listeriosis, the method of transmission is less obvious; however, outbreaks of hospital-acquired, newborn listeriosis have been documented. In certain cases, environmental sources may be involved.
Causes
L. monocytogenes is the bacteria that causes listeriosis. Except for newborn listeriosis, almost all cases of listeriosis are brought on by consuming tainted food products, particularly ready-to-eat, chilled foods. L. monocytogenes may grow at refrigerated temperatures, in contrast to the majority of pathogenic bacterial infections. Environmental contaminants like listeria species are frequently found in things like water, soil, muck, and decomposing vegetation. L. monocytogenes can be introduced into slaughterhouses and food processing facilities, contaminating food items such meat or dairy products, unprocessed produce, and processed meals. Unpasteurized or inadequately pasteurized milk, soft cheeses, dairy products, hot dogs, turkey delicatessen meats, and cantaloupe have all been linked to several outbreaks.
Despite the frequent occurrence of L. monocytogenes exposures, it is believed that a number of variables interact to cause invasive illness. These variables include the dosage (amount of bacteria consumed), the pathogenicity of the bacterial strain, and the patient’s immune system’s performance.
Affected Populations
Pregnant women and their unborn children, newborn babies, older adults, and people with weaker immune systems are typically affected by invasive listeriosis (immunocompromised). Hematologic cancer, organ transplantation, HIV infection or AIDS, alcoholism, liver and renal dysfunction are all medical risk factors for invasive listeriosis. L. monocytogenes is responsible for 5% of all instances of bacterial meningitis in newborns under two months old and 10% of all cases in individuals over 65 in the United States. Young, healthy adults very seldom develop invasive listeriosis. According to measurements made in areas where active monitoring for listeriosis has been carried out, the overall prevalence of invasive listeriosis in the United States has stayed rather stable over the past ten years (3 cases per million people).
Related Disorders
The following illnesses can have symptoms that are similar to listeriosis. A differential diagnosis may benefit from comparisons:
All causes of meningitis or sepsis in newborns, such as group B streptococcus infection, all causes of meningitis and encephalitis in elderly people and people with weakened immune systems, all causes of febrile illness during pregnancy, including viral syndromes, are all included in the differential diagnosis of listeriosis.
Group B streptococcus, also known as group B strep, is a type of bacteria that can infect babies, expectant or postpartum women, women who have undergone gynecologic surgery, elderly people with other significant conditions, and pregnant or postpartum women. The most frequent cause of blood and brain infections in newborns (neonates) is still group B strep. Streptococcus agalactiae, the causative bacterium, is typically located in the vagina and rectum of females and can spread when the baby travels through the birth canal. When group B strep infection becomes apparent within the first week of life, it is said to have an early onset. If the condition becomes apparent after the first week of life but before the end of the first three months, it is said to have a late onset. (To learn more about this condition, select “Use the search phrase “Group B Streptococcus” in the Rare Disease Database.)
A central nervous system infection known as bacterial meningitis is brought on by specific bacteria. Inflammation of the meninges (the membranes that surround the brain or spinal cord) is the defining feature of meningitis. Acute inflammation can start off unexpectedly and progress to become chronic (subacute). Fever, headaches, stiff necks, and even aching muscles, are examples of major symptoms. There may be other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Group B streptococcus, Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), and Listeria monocytogenes are the bacteria that cause the majority of instances of bacterial meningitis (Listeria). (To learn more about this condition, select “Use the phrase “meningitis” in the Rare Disease Database search.)
Diagnosis
Cultures, a type of laboratory test that establishes the presence of L. monocytogenes in the body by isolating the bacteria from a clinical specimen, are used to confirm the diagnosis of invasive listeriosis. To ascertain whether the bacteria L. monocytogenes is present, cultures of blood, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, placenta, or specimens from any afflicted organ systems may be conducted. Abscesses that may develop on internal organs, particularly the brain or liver, may be found using certain x-ray procedures like computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Standard Therapies
Treatment Antibiotics are used to treat listeriosis. Intravenous ampicillin is the medication that is most frequently prescribed. In addition to ampicillin, gentamicin is often prescribed by medical professionals. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is advised for those with the condition who are unable to tolerate B-lactam antibiotics (such as ampicillin). On occasion, more antibiotics are advised. Pregnant women with confirmed listeriosis may benefit from antibiotic treatment to avoid infecting the fetus. All third generation cephalosporins are not effective against L. monocytogenes. Other forms of treatment are supportive and symptomatic.
Prevention The greatest method to lower the danger of listeriosis is to understand which foods to avoid and how to prepare and store food securely. This information is crucial for those who belong to risk categories for invasive listeriosis, particularly pregnant women, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems.
Do not consume raw (unpasteurized) milk or other dairy products if you are at a higher risk of contracting listeriosis. Eat only soft cheeses that are marked as being prepared from pasteurized milk, such as Brie, feta, and Mexican-style cheeses. Additionally, be aware that soft cheeses prepared in the Latin American and Mexican styles that are created from pasteurized milk have also been linked to listeriosis. Warm up deli meats, prepared items, and leftovers until piping hot. Eat only cooked or shelf-stable seafood that has been refrigerated, such as canned or smoked seafood that has been in a casserole.
Everyone should follow the advice to prevent listeriosis and other foodborne illnesses by properly cooking all raw animal products, including meat, as heat destroys L. monocytogenes. If eating raw, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Observe the “sell by” and “best if used by” dates on processed food packaging. Foods that haven’t been cooked or washed should be kept apart from items that have been ready for consumption.
What signs of listeria are there?
The investigation on the outbreak is over. However, because recalled food might still remain in some people’s freezers and customers who are ignorant of the recalls might eat them, people risk continuing to get sick. Institutions shouldn’t serve recalled goods, and stores shouldn’t sell them. Read the Consumers, Institutions, and Retailers Advice section.
Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium (germ), can contaminate food, leading to the potentially fatal condition known as listeriosis. Pregnant women and their unborn children, elderly adults, and those whose immune systems have been compromised by cancer, cancer treatments, or other significant disorders are the disease’s main victims (like diabetes, kidney failure, liver disease, and HIV). Rarely are individuals without these risk factors impacted.
The typical symptoms of listeriosis include fever and muscle aches, which are occasionally accompanied by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. Nearly all people with listeriosis have an invasive illness, which means that the bacteria spread from their intestines to their blood, causing bloodstream infection, or to their central nervous system, causing meningitis. Even while listeriosis can sometimes develop up to two months after consuming infected food, symptoms often appear within a few days. Antibiotics are used to treat listeriosis.
With each afflicted person, the symptoms change:
Most medical professionals agree that no testing or treatments are necessary, even for those who are more susceptible to listeriosis, if a person has consumed food contaminated with Listeria but shows no symptoms.
What are Listeria’s initial symptoms?
It may take a few days for symptoms to appear after eating infected food, but it often takes 30 days or longer for an infection to manifest itself. Signs and symptoms of listeria infection that affects the neurological system include: Headache. rigid neck Symptoms
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Muscle pain.
- Nausea.
- Diarrhea.
How is Listeria handled at home?
The severity of your symptoms and general state of health will determine how you are treated for listeriosis.
Treatment may not be required if your symptoms are minor and the rest of your health is good. Your doctor may advise you to stay at home and take care of yourself with frequent follow-ups.
Like any other foodborne illness, listeriosis can be treated at home. Home remedies for a minor infection include:
- If you experience vomiting or diarrhea, drink water and other clear liquids to avoid becoming dehydrated.
- Use over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or naproxen, to treat body aches and fever (Aleve).
- Eat foods that are simple to process as you recover. Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are a few of these. Limit your intake of fatty meals including meat, dairy products, and spices.
Medical treatments
You’ll probably need to stay in the hospital and receive intravenous (IV) medicine if you have invasive listeriosis. The medical staff can keep an eye out for issues while administering antibiotics intravenously to help treat the illness.
Treatment in pregnancy
If you have listeriosis while pregnant, your doctor will advise you to start taking medication. They’ll also keep an eye out for symptoms of distress in your infant. Antibiotics are given to newborn infants with infections as soon as they are born.
Which foods contain Listeria?
Among the foods with a high listeria risk are:
- foods in salad bars, sandwich shops, and delicatessens that are ready to eat.
- prepared meals.
- Cheese that is soft or semi-soft.
- uncooked, unwashed vegetables.
- ice cream with a soft serve.
- raw seafood and shellfish.
- dairy products without pasteurization.
- prepared or cold-cured meats.
Does Listeria disappear by itself?
A uncommon infection known as listeriosis is brought on by the listeria bacteria. It normally goes away on its own, but for some people, it can be very problematic.
Is Listeria contagious between people?
Infected pregnant women may only experience minor flu-like symptoms, such as muscle pains, but they are still at risk for preterm labor and other catastrophic consequences for their unborn child.
How Do People Get Listeria Infections?
The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which can spread through soil and water, is what causes listeria illnesses.
Foods including deli meats and cold cuts, soft-ripened cheese, undercooked chicken, uncooked hot dogs, shellfish, unpasteurized (raw) milk, and dairy products manufactured from raw milk can all cause people to consume the bacteria.
Are Listeria Infections Contagious?
Nobody can contract listeriosis from another individual. When people consume contaminated food or liquids, they become infected. A pregnant woman, however, runs the risk of infecting her unborn child.
How Is Listeriosis Diagnosed?
A lab test known as a bacterial culture, performed on a sample of a body fluid, such as blood, spinal fluid, or the placenta, is typically how doctors diagnose Listeria infections.
The earlier listeriosis is detected and treated, the better, because it can cause a serious and life-threatening infection.
How Is Listeriosis Treated?
With a Listeria infection, healthy children, adolescents, and adults normally don’t require treatment. Symptoms typically disappear after a few weeks.
Pregnant women and newborns with listeriosis will receive antibiotics in the hospital through an intravenous catheter (IV) into a vein. The course of treatment typically lasts 10 days, though this can change depending on how well the body is able to fight off the infection.
Children with immune systems that have been damaged by disease or infection, including cancer or HIV, are more prone to experience severe listeriosis infections and may require further care.
What Problems Can Happen?
When a person has a severe Listeria infection, they may also experience gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea, also known as the “stomach flu”), bacteremia (a bacterial infection in the blood), sepsis (a potentially fatal full-body reaction to bacteremia), meningitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis (infection in a bone), and endocarditis (inflammation and infection of the lining of the heart). This risk is higher for people over
Can Listeria Infections Be Prevented?
Avoiding some foods and beverages can lower your risk of contracting this infection, especially if you are pregnant or in one of the other high-risk groups.
Other recommendations for defending your family against listeriosis (and other foodborne infections) include:
- Cook meals to the proper internal temperature every time, paying special attention to meat and eggs.