What is Listeria contamination?
Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die.
How many people die each year from Listeria?
An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.
How to know if you have Listeria monocytogenes?
Pets can also spread the bacteria in the home environment if they eat food contaminated with L. monocytogenes. There are a range of symptoms for listeriosis. Depending on the severity of the illness, symptoms may last from days to several weeks. Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What are the signs and symptoms of listeriosis?
If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. For the very young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised listeriosis can result in death.
Who is most at risk for listeriosis infection?
Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.
How is a diagnosis of listeriosis made in a hospital?
The initial diagnosis of listeriosis is made based on clinical symptoms and detection of the bacteria in a smear from blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), meconium of newborns (or the fetus in abortion cases), as well as from faeces, vomitus, foods or animal feed.
What kind of organism is Listeria monocytogenes?
Listeria (Listeriosis) Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a species of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria that can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive and even grow under refrigeration and other food preservation measures. When people eat food contaminated with L.
What foods have been linked to Listeria outbreaks?
Outbreaks of Listeria infections in the 1990s were primarily linked to deli meats and hot dogs. Now, Listeria outbreaks are often linked to dairy products and produce. Investigators have traced recent outbreaks to soft cheeses, celery, sprouts, cantaloupe, and ice cream.
How do people get infected with Listeria monocytogenes?
People become infected with L. monocytogenes by eating contaminated food. People can also become infected by handling contaminated food, such as contaminated pet food, or touching contaminated surfaces and utensils and then accidentally transferring the bacteria from their hands to their mouths.
When was the last Listeria monocytogenes webinar held?
Provides FSIS risk assessment reports and models for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella, etc. FSIS hosted webinar held on September 29, 2015 with representatives from FSIS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.