Information about Listeria Bacteria
Mammals are intracellular parasites of the bacterium genus Listeria.There are now 28 species recognized as of 2024.The genus bears Joseph Lister’s name in honor of the British pioneer of sterile surgery. Listeria species lack endospore production and are rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic, and Gram-positive bacteria.
L.monocytogenes is the genus’s principal human pathogen. Despite having a low infectivity, L. monocytogenes is resilient and can thrive in temperatures as low as 4 °C (39.2 °F) in a refrigerator and as high as 37 °C (98.6 °F) in the human body.[5] It is the typical cause of listeriosis, a relatively uncommon bacterial infection contracted by eating contaminated food. The disease’s overt manifestation has a case-fatality rate of about 20–30%. Listeriosis can result in gastroenteritis in those who have been seriously infected and can cause serious sickness in pregnant women, babies, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems. Three to seventy days can pass during the incubation phase.Sepsis and meningitis are the two primary clinical symptoms, frequently Rarely, the ruminant-specific pathogen L. ivanovii can cause listeriosis in humans.
Eating food infected with the listeria monocytogenes bacteria can result in listeriosis, or diseases caused by the listeria bacteria. Flu-like symptoms and upset stomachs might be brought on by the virus.
The foods that are most prone to get infected with this kind of bacteria are soft cheeses, smoked seafood, hot dogs, and deli meats (which are prepared and available at the deli counter).
Although laboratory testing can confirm the diagnosis, clinical symptoms are typically used to diagnose listeria infections. Since this infection might lead to problems, antibiotic therapy can be required. When it comes to salmonella, E. coli, and other food-borne illnesses like listeriosis, prevention is crucial.
If you develop a listeria infection, you might observe symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
After consuming tainted food, symptoms may appear a few days later, but it may take up to 30 days for the illness to show symptoms.
If the listeria infection spreads to your nervous system, signs and symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion or changes in alertness
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
Symptoms during pregnancy and in newborns
A listeria infection during pregnancy is probably only going to cause the woman to have moderate symptoms. However, the effects on the unborn child can be disastrous; the child may pass away while still in the womb or develop a potentially fatal illness within a few days of birth.
Signs and symptoms of a listeria infection in a newborn can be subtle, but can include:
- Little interest in feeding
- Irritability
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
Causes
It is possible to find listeria bacteria in water, soil, and animal waste. Eating any of the following can expose a person to infection: polluted raw veggies derived from polluted soil or contaminated manure used as fertilizer Meat that has been contaminated Unpasteurized milk or anything prepared using it Some processed goods that have been tainted after processing include soft cheeses, hot dogs, and deli meats. A mother’s listeria infection can infect unborn children.
Risk factors
Those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are most vulnerable to listeria infections.
Pregnant women and their babies
Compared to other healthy individuals, pregnant women are far more vulnerable to contracting listeria infections. Pregnant women may only have a moderate illness from a listeria infection, but the virus can have serious effects for the unborn child.
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Premature birth
- A potentially fatal infection after birth
Complications: Due to their mild nature, most listeria infections go undiagnosed. On the other hand, a listeria infection may occasionally result in potentially fatal consequences such as:
- Generalized blood infection
- Inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain (meningitis)
Diagnosis
Based on your symptoms, a listeria infection can be identified in addition to diagnostic procedures like blood tests. There may be a recall in the event that outbreaks are detected and the contaminated food source can be located. But this isn’t always the case, particularly if one or a small number of people are the only ones afflicted by the sickness.
A blood test sample can be used to cultivate the organism in a culture.7.A lumbar puncture (LP), commonly referred to as a spinal tap, can be used to obtain a spinal fluid sample in the event that meningitis or encephalitis are suspected. Additionally, if an in utero infection is suspected, a placenta sample might be taken. Even though listeria monocytogenes frequently results in GI involvement, it does not grow in stool culture.
How to treat the listeriosis
You should see a doctor if you encounter any of the listeriosis symptoms. Antibiotics are used to treat listeria infections. Complications could also call for different treatment modalities.
Antibiotics for listeriosis
Ampicillin or ampicillin plus gentamycin is the most often prescribed antibiotic for treating listeriosis infections. If you are allergic to ampicillin, you should normally consider taking Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole). Antibiotic resistance may occasionally arise.10 Del Carmen, Gómez D, and Escolar C Rota Herrera A, Conchello P, and García M. Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua Isolated from Ready-to-Eat Products of Animal Origin in Spain. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2017 Jun;14(6):357–363. Epub 2017 Mar 29. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2016.2248. requiring the application of second-line antibiotics, including erythromycin.
Oral antibiotics are usually adequate, but you might require intravenous (IV, given through a vein) antibiotics if you are experiencing severe nausea and vomiting.
How to Prevent Listeria Infection
Taking the right food safety steps is the best defense against a listeria infection.
Wash your hands
The majority of foodborne infections, including listeriosis, are less likely to spread when people wash their hands properly before eating and while preparing food.
Thoroughly wash food
Listeria can spread through contaminated produce. Wash all of your fruits and veggies well, especially the ones that you won’t be cooking. Produce should always be washed before being peeled. Keep cooked and uncooked ingredients apart.
Fully cook meat
Although undercooked meats are more likely to cause foodborne illness, they are nonetheless popular.Cooking meats should result in interior temperatures of:
- Poultry: 165 F
- Beef: 160 F
- Pork: 165 F
For beef, hog, veal, and lamb, the internal temperature of the ground meat should be at least 160 degrees, or 165 degrees for poultry and turkey. The meat should be roasted until it is well brown.
Overview
A foodborne bacterial infection known as listeria infection can be extremely dangerous for individuals 65 years of age or older, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. Eating unpasteurized milk products and inadequately treated deli meats is the main cause of it.
Listeria infections rarely cause illness in healthy individuals, but they can be fatal in newborns, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. The symptoms of a listeria infection might be lessened with quick antibiotic treatment.
Listeria microorganisms are resistant to freezing and refrigeration. Therefore, foods that are more likely to contain listeria germs should be avoided by those who are more susceptible to serious infections.