Listeria Monocytogenes and Listeriosis Information

Listeria monocytogenes is a is bacteria that can contaminate food products. When it is consumed by the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women, it can cause an often fatal bacterial infection called listeriosis. The infection often moves from the intestines to the blood causing spesis (septicemia), which is often the cause of death. In many cases, listeriosis causes listerial meningitis, an infection of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord. This, in turn, causes severe and often permanent brain damage and can cause death.

How Does Listeria Get into Food?

Because animals may carry it in their intestines without becoming sick, Listeria sometimes spreads to meat and dairy products. Although Listeria bacteria are killed through cooking and other heating methods used to produce ready-to-eat foods such as pasteurization, some ready-to-eat foods become contaminated after processing. This kind of contamination can take place in the processing plant or on the road from the processor to your plate.

Listeria outbreaks are most commonly associated with ready-to-eat meat foods, including hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented or dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry. Soft cheeses are another common source of Listeria outbreaks.

Listeria Symptoms and Death

The most common early manifestations of listeriosis are flu-like symptoms, including fever and muscle aches. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea may accompany the flu-like symptoms, or may occur on their own. The symptoms of Listeria poisoning (listeriosis) include:

Flu-like fever and muscle aches
Upset stomach or diarrhea
Stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion or convulsions
Flu-like symptoms in pregnant women

If you suspect that you or a family member has Listeria, you should see your doctor.

The average length of time between coming into contact with Listeria and the onset of symptoms is three weeks. If you or a member of your family in an at-risk group (young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with depressed immune systems) is experiencing Listeria symptoms you may want to consult a physician. Because listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, it is important to recognize an infection at an early stage.

More Listeria Information

For more Listeria information, please read the following:

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