What is Listeriosis, who is at risk, and how can it be prevented?
February 2, 2024
Listeriosis is a serious bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes.
It rarely causes serious disease in immunocompetent adults but can cause fatal disease in pregnant woman, immunosuppressed patients, small children, and elderly adults.
Listeria can cause both intestinal disease and invasive disease (listeriosis). Intestinal disease is characterized by vomiting and diarrhea and has an onset of within 24 hours and duration between 1-3 days. Listeriosis is characterized by fever and influenza type symptoms in both pregnant and non-pregnant persons, but non-pregnant persons can also have seizures, confusion, and headache. Pregnant persons can have mild symptoms but listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth and also cause a potentially fatal infection in the newborn. Non-pregnant persons can have potentially fatal illness with deaths in nearly 1 in 20 people with the infection.
Sources of infection include hot dogs and luncheon meats, un-pasteurized dairy products especially soft cheeses, pates and smoked fish products, raw fruits and vegetables (especially sprouts).
How to prevent infection? Heat!
Listeria is killed at temperatures above 165F.
Therefore, deli meats and hotdogs should be cooked to greater than 165F and steaming hot.
It is important to have a food thermometer when cooking to ensure that food is cooked thoroughly.
While it is safer to cook fruits and vegetables before consuming, prevention of infection with raw fruits and vegetables can occur with a thorough washing.
In addition, it is important to keep a clean kitchen and refrigerator, wash hands before food preparation, and also after handling any potentially contaminated foods (raw meat and unwashed fruits/vegetables) prior to completing another task in the kitchen.
An excellent link describing prevention measures is available from the CDC: Prevent Listeria | Listeria | CDC
Question prepared by: Rebecca Bruccoleri, MD, Medical Director, Tennessee Poison Center
Comment: One of our faithful readers asked for a Question on Listeria. Here it is. ds
I am interested in any questions you would like answered in the Question of the Week. Please email me with any suggestions at donna.seger@vumc.org.
Donna Seger, MD
Professor Emerita
Department of Medicine
VUMC