Listeriosis Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating foods contaminated with bacterium Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes is a rod-shaped

aerobic and gram postitive pathogenic bacterium that invades the cytoplasm of living cells.It develops a distinctive rocket tail structure to help push through the cytoplasm. What causes this? y y y y Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer. Animals can carry the bacteria and can contaminate meats and dairy products. Processed foods, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts, can be contaminated after processing. Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk can be contaminated. Who are at risk? Pregnant women, developing fetuses, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems are at increased risk. Infection in early pregnancy generally leads to miscarriage. The bacteria may cross the placenta and infect the developing baby. Infections in late pregnancy may lead to stillbirth or death of the infant within a few hours of birth. About half of infants infected at or near term will die. Symptoms: y y y Fever Muscle aches Nausea

If the listeria infection spreads to nervous system, signs and symptoms may include: y y y y y y Headache Stiff neck Confusion or changes in alertness Loss of balance Convulsions Diarrhea

Preventive measures: y y y y y Prepare foods safely. Wash your hands before and after handling food. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables by rinsing them well with running water. Store foods safely. Cook, refrigerate, or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and ready-to-eat foods within 2 hours Serve foods safely. Keep cooked hot foods hot [140F (60C) or above] and cold foods cold [40F (4C) or below]. Food should always be adequately cooked. Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.

Treatment: Antibiotics are prescribed to kill the bacteria that are causing the infection. Signs and tests Laboratory tests may be done to detect the bacteria in amniotic fluid, blood, feces, and urine. A CSF culture may be performed.

References: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002356/ http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/listeriosis-topic-overview Jamila B. Mohammad BSN2-k