Listeria infections
Listeria infections, also known as listeriosis, are caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and primarily impact the brain, nerves, and nervous system. This foodborne illness is most commonly contracted through the consumption of contaminated food, particularly unpasteurized dairy products, uncooked meats, and raw vegetables. While infections can be asymptomatic, they may present symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and muscle aches. In severe cases, particularly among vulnerable populations like pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems, the infection can lead to more serious complications, including seizures and even death.
Pregnant women who contract Listeria can pass the infection to their unborn children, resulting in severe health outcomes for the newborn, such as fever, irritability, and potential neurological damage. Diagnosis is typically made through blood tests or spinal analysis, with treatment often requiring hospitalization and the administration of antibiotics like ampicillin or penicillin. The duration of treatment may vary based on the severity of the infection and the patient’s response, ranging from ten days to eight weeks. Awareness of Listeria infections is crucial, particularly for those in high-risk groups, as timely intervention can significantly impact health outcomes.
Listeria infections
ALSO KNOWN AS: Listeriosis, Listeria monocytogenes
ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: Brain, nerves, nervous system
DEFINITION: Infections caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
CAUSES: Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, uncooked meats, unwashed vegetables
SYMPTOMS: Can be asymptomatic or include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, seizures, headache, death
DURATION: Begins a day after ingestion of contaminated food, can last two to three days; more serious central nervous system infections can last much longer, with permanent damage
TREATMENTS: Antibiotics
Causes and Symptoms
Infection with Listeria bacteria is relatively rare and primarily affects pregnant women, newborn infants, and people with compromised immune systems. Listeria infection is a foodborne illness, meaning that infection occurs after eating a contaminated food product. Foods most commonly contaminated with Listeria are unpasteurized dairy products, uncooked meats, and raw, unwashed vegetables. For this reason, most pregnant women are advised by their doctors to make sure that all susceptible foods consumed during are pasteurized and cooked thoroughly. Listeria monocytogenes is the cause of about 260 deaths a year.
The symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and muscle aches, though some infections are completely asymptomatic. If infection progresses to reach the central nervous system, then symptoms can involve dizziness, headache, seizures, and death. Pregnant women who become infected can pass the to their unborn children. Shortly after birth, the newborn can become acutely ill and exhibit fever, irritability, and poor feeding. Listeria infection in the newborn is an emergency and can progress to death quickly. If the newborn survives the infection, then the child may suffer lifelong neurological damage.
Treatment and Therapy
Diagnosis of Listeria infection is performed with a blood test or analysis of the spinal through a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). Treatment for infection may require hospitalization and involves antibiotics. Ampicillin or penicillin G, often in conjunction with gentamicin, are the most commonly used antibiotics for these infections, but others such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and meropenem may be used in cases where the patient is allergic to penicillin or first-line treatments fail. Antibiotic treatment may last anywhere from ten days to eight weeks, depending on the patient’s and response to therapy.
Since the damage to newborn infants can be devastating, most infants presenting with fever, seizures, or other neurological symptoms receive a to aid in diagnosis and are placed on prophylactic antibiotics that include ampicillin to treat Listeria. Ampicillin may be discontinued two to three days after treatment initiation if the spinal fluid is free of Listeria infection.
Bibliography
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