Listeriosis

Article Abstract:

Listeria moncytogenes is a rod-shaped pathogen (disease-causing bacterium) that is related to illness in pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with impaired immune systems. The organism is commonly found in the environment and has been found to be a foodborne pathogen. The organism has been linked to transmission through commercially prepared coleslaw, dairy products, and most raw meats and fish. It has been linked to four major epidemics in North America within recent years. Listeriosis has only recently been made reportable to the Federal government; it causes at least 1,700 serious infections and perhaps 450 deaths and 100 spontaneous abortions or stillbirths annually in the U.S. The disease in pregnant women often resembles an intestinal flu and can lead to severe and not infrequently fatal infections of the fetus. In nonpregnant adults, the symptoms may resemble meningitis or generalized sepsis (infection). Although recognized for more than fifty years, the general microbiology, clinical aspects and epidemiology are not clearly understood. Increase awareness, resulting in part from its reportable status, should encourage investigators to clarify many of these important outstanding medical issues.

Evaluation, Antibiotics, Complications and side effects

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Role of foods in sporadic listeriosis: I. case-control study of dietary risk factors

Article Abstract:

Patients with listeriosis may have contracted the disease from eating contaminated food. Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that can cause meningitis and encephalitis. Among 18 million individuals who were monitored between Nov 1988 and Dec 1990, the incidence of listeriosis was 7.4 cases per million people per year, and 23% of listeriosis patients died from the disease. Comparison of 165 patients with listeriosis to 376 healthy individuals found that patients were more likely than non-infected individuals to have eaten soft cheeses, or food from delicatessens. Thirty-two percent of the patients contracted listeriosis from these foods. Sixty-nine percent of the men and non-pregnant women with listeriosis had suppressed immune systems. Listeriosis patients who were immunosuppressed either had cancer or AIDS, were transplant recipients, or were being treated with corticosteroid drugs. Dietary counseling of high-risk patients may decrease their likelihood of developing listeriosis.

Diet

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Role of foods in sporadic listeriosis: II. microbiologic and epidemiologic investigation

Article Abstract:

Some food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes may be more likely to cause listeriosis than other foods contaminated with this bacterium. Listeriosis is an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes that can cause encephalitis and meningitis. Of 123 listeriosis patients, 79 (64%) had a least one food item in their refrigerator that contained Listeria monocytogenes. The bacterium was isolated from 226 of 2,013 food items (11%) from patients' refrigerators that were tested. Twenty-six of the 79 patients (33%) with Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated food items in their refrigerator were infected with the same strain of the bacterium. Patients were more likely to have the same strain as that found in ready-to-eat foods, foods with high concentrations of the bacterium, or foods infected by the 4b strain of the bacterium. This information may help the food industry and regulatory agencies identify which foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may cause listeriosis.

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