Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

DNA FINGERPRINTING (PFGE) AND
LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

The information below regarding DNA fingerprinting and Listeria monocytogenes is provided by Listeria attorney Fred Pritzker. He and his team of lawyers have won millions for Listeria victims, including $6,000,000 for the families of victims who died in one outbreak. Contact Fred for a free case review.

Determining Whether a Cluster of
Listeriosis Cases is an Outbreak

The microbiological part of an investigation into a cluster of listeriosis (Listeria) cases involves a genetic subtyping process (DNA fingerprinting) to determine if the listeriosis cases were caused by the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes.  This process begins with obtaining an isolate of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria from the people with listeriosis.

Listeria TestThese isolates are tested pursuant to PulseNet system protocols using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), a molecular subtyping technique. PFGE testing provides genetic fingerprints of the isolates.  When two or more Listeria monocytogenes bacteria have matching genetic fingerprints, there is a common source of the bacteria and the resulting cases of listeriosis are part of the same outbreak.

Determining the Source of a Listeriosis Outbreak

To find the source of an outbreak, genetic fingerprinting and epidemiological evidence are used.  The people sickened by Listeria bacteria with matching DNA fingerprints are interviewed (and/or their families are interviewed) to determine what they ate in the last 2 months (the incubation period for Listeria can be as long as 70 days).  Health investigators (epidemiologists) look for common food sources and investigate all likely sources.  Part of that investigation is testing processing plants (drains, equipment, etc.) and food products for Listeria monocytogenes.  If Listeria is found, isolates will have PFGE testing done on them to determine if they match the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.  If there is a match, health officials consider the food (food produced at the plant if the bacteria was found in the plant) the source of the outbreak.

If epidemiological evidence (patient interviews, receipts of purchase, etc.) associates a food product with an outbreak but Listeria is not found in the food product or the plant that produced it, that is generally adequate evidence to make a claim for damages against the manufacturer, distributor, and/or retail seller of the food.

If you have been diagnosed with listeriosis and are seeking legal representation, please contact Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. for a free consultation with a Listeria lawyer. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's free case consultation form.


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This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.