How can Listeria be transmitted?
Listeria can be spread to people by several different methods. Eating food contaminated with the bacteria, such as through raw (unpasteurized) milk or contaminated vegetables, is often a source for cases. The bacteria may be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy or directly to the newborn at the time of birth.
Can you get Listeria from touching?
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.
How are patients commonly exposed to Listeria?
People can get infected by eating the following: Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or from contaminated manure used as fertilizer. Contaminated meat. Unpasteurized milk or foods made with unpasteurized milk.
How long is Listeria contagious?
In general, listeriosis is not contagious from person to person (except in pregnancy); the disease spreads to humans mainly by contaminated food or fluids. Listeria infections may last about one week to about six weeks, depending upon the severity of the infection.
What surface kills Listeria?
Chlorine bleach works well to kill bacteria on hard surfaces. For bleach to function properly, however, the surface or item must first be clean. After thoroughly washing food preparation surfaces with hot, soapy water, you can sanitize them with a solution of diluted bleach.
How long after eating Listeria do you get sick?
Symptoms of intestinal illness usually start within 24 hours after eating food contaminated with Listeria and usually last 1–3 days. Symptoms are usually mild. However, some people with intestinal illness develop invasive illness.
What should you do if exposed to Listeria?
You should seek medical care and tell the doctor about eating possibly contaminated food if you have a fever and other symptoms of possible listeriosis, such as fatigue and muscle aches, within two months after eating possibly contaminated food.
How do you know you have Listeria?
The symptoms can take a few days or even weeks to appear and may include fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea or upset stomach, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance. In more serious cases, listeriosis could also lead to the mother's death.
What happens if you get Listeria?
What are the symptoms of listeriosis? Listeriosis can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, and diarrhea or upset stomach. You also may have a stiff neck, headache, confusion, or loss of balance. Symptoms may appear as late as 2 months after you have eaten something with Listeria.
How might an infected patient transmit listeriosis to another human?
Listeria typically spreads to people through contaminated food or water, but can also be transmitted from mother to fetus. Except for the transmission of mother to fetus, human-to-human transmission of Listeria is not known to occur.
How serious is Listeria?
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 do you treat Listeria at home?
Home treatment for listeriosis is similar to treatment for any foodborne illness. To treat a mild infection at home, you can: Prevent dehydration by drinking water and clear liquids if vomiting or diarrhea occur.
What are the odds of getting Listeria while pregnant?
An estimated 1/6 of all Listeria cases occur in pregnant women.
How do I know if I have Listeria?
What are the symptoms of listeriosis? Listeriosis can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, and diarrhea or upset stomach. You also may have a stiff neck, headache, confusion, or loss of balance. Symptoms may appear as late as 2 months after you have eaten something with Listeria.
How would I know if I had Listeria while pregnant?
How will I know if I have listeriosis? Symptoms of listeriosis may show up 2-30 days after exposure. Symptoms in pregnant women include mild flu-like symptoms, headaches, muscle aches, fever, nausea, and vomiting. If the infection spreads to the nervous system it can cause a stiff neck, disorientation, or convulsions.
What are signs of Listeria?
Clinical Features/Signs and SymptomsHigher-risk people other than pregnant women: Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only fever, and other non-specific symptoms like chills and headache.More items...
Overview
- Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. People become infected by eating foods contaminated with the bacteria. Listeria may infect many different sites in the body, such as the brain, spinal cord membranes, or the bloodstream.
Causes
- Anyone can get the disease, but those at highest risk for getting it are pregnant women, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems (for example, people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or a transplant), and people with chronic liver or kidney disease, diabetes, or alcoholism. Healthy adults and children occasionally are infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill. Al…
Signs and symptoms
- Because listeriosis can affect many different parts of the body, the symptoms vary from mild to severe. Listeria can cause fever and diarrhea (loose stool/poop) similar toother foodborne germs, but this type of Listeria infection is rarely diagnosed. Symptoms vary in people with invasive listeriosis, meaning the bacteria has spread beyond the gut.
Diagnosis
- Specific laboratory tests are the only way to diagnose this disease. A blood, spinal fluid, or amniotic fluid/placenta test that looks for the bacteria will be able to show if the disease is present.
Treatment
- Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Ampicillin, either alone or in combination with other antibiotics, is often used.
Prognosis
- Past infection does not appear to make a person immune. People can be reinfected if exposed to the Listeria bacteria again.
Prevention
- Since the bacteria is widespread in nature, basic sanitary measures such as using only pasteurized dairy products, eating cooked meats, washing produce, and washing hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry offers the best protection.
Contraindications
- In addition, the following recommendations are for persons at high risk, such as pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems (for example people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or a transplant):