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Definition Return to top
Listeriosis is a disease caused by infection with the organism Listeria monocytogenes.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Listeria monocytogenes is common in wild animals, domesticated animals, and in soil and water. L. monocytogenes causes disease in many animals and is a common cause of miscarriage and stillbirth in domestic animals. L. monocytogenes also occurs as a food-borne contaminant that can cause disease.Symptoms Return to top
Maternal infection while pregnant leading to:Signs and tests Return to top
Treatment Return to top
Treatment is aimed at eliminating the infection with antibiotics. Antibiotics prescribed may include:Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
Infection of the fetus with L. monocytogenes results in a poor outcome with approximately a 50% death rate. The late infant onset form also has a high death rate. Healthy older children and adults have a lower death rate.Complications Return to top
In addition to severe disease, stillbirth, and death as described above, infants who survive listeriosis may suffer long-term neurological damage and delayed development.
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call your health care provider if signs or symptoms of Listeriosis develop in you or your child.Prevention Return to top
Pregnant women should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals. Listeria is well controlled in American food products, but food-associated outbreaks have occured.
Pregnant women should avoid consumption of soft cheeses, deli meats, and cold salads from salad bars. Foreign food products such as nonpasteurized soft cheeses have also been implicated in outbreaks of listeriosis. Food should always be adequately cooked.
Update Date: 11/18/2003 Updated by: D. Scott Smith, MD, MSc, DTM&H, Infectious Diseases Division and Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology. Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |