Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, commonly found in contaminated food such as unpasteurized dairy products, partial meats, and smoked seafood.
It primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
After consuming contaminated food the bacteria can spread from the gut to the bloodstream and other parts of the body.
It is zoonotic disease easily transmit animals to humans
Clinical signs of listeriosis:
vary depending on the person affected.
In healthy individuals, symptoms may be mild, such as fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues like nausea or diarrhea.
In severe cases, especially in vulnerable groups, the infection can lead to meningitis or septicemia.
Pregnant women may experience only mild flu-like symptoms but risk miscarriage, stillbirth, or infection of the newborn. Symptoms can appear a few days to several weeks after exposure.
Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are crucial for preventing complications.
Proper food safety practices help reduce the risk of infection.
Symptoms and Causes:
Listeria infections can be mild or life-threatening.
Severe infections can cause neurological issues, like seizures.
Symptoms of Listeria infection
Listeriosis symptoms include:
Fever
Chills
Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle or joint pain
Fatigue
You might not have all these symptoms. If Listeria spreads beyond your digestive system (invasive listeriosis), you might have additional, severe symptoms.
These include:
Confusion
Loss of balance
Stiff neck
Seizures
Transmission
How long after Listeria exposure do you get sick?
Symptoms of listeriosis can start a few days to two weeks after eating contaminated food. If you’re pregnant, you might have mild or no symptoms but can still pass the infection to the fetus.
Listeria causes:
The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis. You get it by eating or drinking something contaminated with the bacteria. If you’re pregnant and get a Listeria infection, you can transmit it to the fetus during pregnancy or childbirth.
What foods can contain Listeria?
Foods that are more likely to be contaminated with Listeria.
Unpasteurized Dairy & Juices
Raw milk
Kefir (if made from unpasteurized milk)
Unpasteurized apple cider
Farm-fresh cheese or cream (unpasteurized)
partially prepared meat can easily cause listeriosis bacterial infection
Diagnosis and Tests:
Microbiologically by gram staining
How do you know if you have listeriosis?
You won’t know for sure if you have listeriosis unless you get tested. Many people don’t get tested if their symptoms are mild.
A healthcare provider might suspect you have listeriosis based on your symptoms and whether you’ve eaten something that could’ve been contaminated.
They can confirm a diagnosis by testing your blood, fluid around your brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid), or amniotic fluid (if you’re pregnant) for signs of the bacteria.
Other tests might include:
Blood culture
Testing tissue from the placenta after birth (if you’re pregnant)
CT scan or MRI of your brain if you have neurological symptoms
How is listeriosis treated?
Antibiotics like sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin treat listeriosis.
Take your full course of medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider, even if you start to feel better.
If you don’t take antibiotics as prescribed, the infection can come back.
If you have mild symptoms and aren’t pregnant or at risk for serious complications, you might not need treatment.
Prevention:
Can Listeria be prevented?
You can reduce your risk of a Listeria infection by following food safety guidelines:
Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and juices. This includes milk, cheese and ice cream.
Wash your hands and any food surfaces before and after cooking,
Use a scrub brush and clean, running water to clean raw fruits and vegetables.
Cook hot dogs, egg dishes and seafood to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
If you’re pregnant, don’t eat refrigerated pâté or meat spreads from the deli or the meat counter at a grocery store. Heat lunch meat until steaming hot.
