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General Information:
-Listeria can cause serious infections in vulnerable groups: adults >65 years old, pregnant women, newborns, immunocompromised
-In a recent CDC report, infection with Listeria was associated with a 20% mortality rate.
Clinical Presentation:
- History of cantaloupe, soft cheese, or raw produce ingestion
- Non-specific symptoms: fever, myalgias, occasionally preceded by GI symptoms
-Can have headache, stiff neck, confusion, AMS, miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women
Diagnosis:
- Blood, CSF, or amniotic fluid culture showing Listeria monocytogenes
- Listeria is a reportable disease
Treatment:
- Ampicillin and Penicillin G are the drugs of choice
- Add gentamycin in CSF infection, endocarditis, the immunocompromised, and neonates.
Bottom Line:
Listeria infections have a high mortality rate and can be found worldwide. Suspect in patients who have febrile syndromes and travel to areas where they may consume unpasteurized cheese.
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Andi Tenner, MD, MPH
References
Older Americans, pregnant women face highest risk from Listeria food poisoning. http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0604-listeria-poisoning.html
http://www.cdc.gov/listeria