Listeriosis

Overview

Listeriosis is a bacterial infectious disease transmitted through eating contaminated food. This risk is particularly great for raw (i.e. unpasteurised) milk products. While an infection can often be asymptomatic or simply cause gastrointestinal problems, people with a weakened immune system can develop sepsis or meningitis. To prevent infection, food must be heated sufficiently.

Symptoms

• Incubation period: 3-90 days

Intact immune system

• Infection is seldom
• Asymptomatic to flu-like
  • Fever
  • Joint and muscle pain
• Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhoea

Complications

• In particular for risk groups:
  • Babies
  • Older people and persons with weakened immune system
  • Chronically ill persons (e.g. HIV, cancer)
• Blood poisoning (sepsis), including organ failure
• Meningitis
  • Headaches
  • Disorientation
  • Balance disturbance
• Pregnancy (via placenta)
  • Miscarriage, premature birth
  • Life-threatening for newborns

Causes and treatment

Causes

• Pathogen: Listeria monocytogenes bacterium
• Transmission
  • Consuming contaminated food
  • Pregnancy: passed to child via placenta
• Typical foods
  • Milk sold in open containers, raw milk products
  • Processed meat (smoked meat, salami, air-dried ham)
  • Ice cream, mayonnaise
  • Seafood
• Risks
  • Bacteria can multiply even in the fridge
  • Insufficient hygiene measures
  • Improper storage
  • Improper processing

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Blood test
• Bacterial culture
• Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (lumbar puncture), if necessary

Possible therapies

• Antibiotics

What can I do myself?

• Heat food (e.g. meat, fish) sufficiently before eating (at least 2 minutes at > 70°C)
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Wash carefully
  • Store separately from meat
• Eat perishable foods as soon as possible
• Don't eat half-raw or raw food
  • Pregnancy
  • Persons with weakened immune system (age, chronic illness)

When to see a doctor?

• Severe vomiting
• Severe diarrhoea
• Disorientation and balance disturbances
• Neck stiffness
• Symptoms for risk groups (pregnancy, chronic illness, advanced age)

Synonyms

listeriosis, listeria infection, listeria disease, listeria