General Information About Listeriosis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a severe infection caused by the Listeria bacteria, which lives in soil and water, contaminating foods and passing to humans, spreading to the blood or brain.
While other bacteria cannot multiply in the refrigerator, Listeria is a dangerous, freeze-resistant bacterium that continues to multiply even at refrigerator temperatures (4°C).
It is found in unpasteurized milk, fresh/soft cheeses, cold meats like packaged sausages/salami, unwashed raw vegetables, and smoked seafood.
Healthy individuals overcome it with mild diarrhea and fever. However, in pregnant women, individuals over 65, and cancer patients, it can cause blood poisoning and meningitis.
The bacterium passes directly from the placenta to the baby. While the mother may have a mild illness, it causes miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal meningitis in the baby.
Definitive diagnosis is made by culturing the bacteria from blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or the placenta. In treatment, high-dose Ampicillin or Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole group antibiotics are immediately administered intravenously.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
