Food poisoning: Listeria

Introduction Listeria infection is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems. Listeria is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Transmission This disease is transmitted through foodborne and waterborne transportation. Humans typically are infected by consuming Raw vegetables and animal meat that have been contaminated. Certain processed foods and Unpasteurized milk can also cause this disease. Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing temperatures.

People who are not pregnant Symptoms Pregnant women People who are not pregnant Little interest in feeding Irritability Fever Vomiting Listeria is likely to cause only mild symptoms in the mother, however, The baby may die before birth or experience a life-threatening infection. Fever Muscle aches Nausea Diarrhea

Treatments/ Prognosis Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Most people with mild symptoms require no treatment. During pregnancy, prompt antibiotic treatment may help keep the infection from affecting the baby. Although a listeria infection may cause only a mild illness in the mother, consequences for the baby may include Miscarriage or a potentially fatal infection after birth.

Prevention To prevent a listeria infection, follow simple food safety guidelines: Wash your hands thoroughly and after cooking, wash all equipment! Clean raw vegetables and meats Cook your food thoroughly Don't eat soft cheeses unless the product was made using pasteurized milk.

Geographic significance In 2010, Listeria monocytogenes was estimated to infect 23,150 people worldwide. It killed 5,463 of them. Most Listeria cases are reported in high-income countries. Because of its high hospitalization rate in the U.S., it’s the third most costly foodborne pathogen. Researchers found that Listeria caused the highest burden on quality of life in Latin American regions.

Informative resources Mayo clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/listeria- infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20355269 Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/diagnosis.html

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Reference list https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/diagnosis.html https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/health/listeria-explainer/index.html https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/listeria- infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20355269 http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/listeria/ http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/10/study-measures-global- burden-of-listeria/#.Ww8b_0xFxMs