Listeria infection is a
foodborne bacterial illness
that can be very serious for pregnant women, people older than 65 and people with weakened immune systems. It's most commonly caused by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products.
What food item is Listeria commonly linked to?
Listeria is a harmful germ that can hide in many foods. Outbreaks of Listeria infections in the 1990s were primarily linked to deli meats and hot dogs. Now, Listeria outbreaks are often linked to
dairy products and produce
.
What is Listeria most commonly found in?
Listeriosis is caused by Listeria, a type of bacteria that is commonly found in
water, soil, and feces
. Humans are infected when they consume foods that harbor the bacteria. The most common foods to cause listeriosis outbreaks are deli meats and unpasteurized dairy products.
What does Listeria do to your body?
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.
What is Listeria and what are the side effects?
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.
Can Listeria be cooked out?
Listeria can be killed with proper cooking
, but unless you're going to use a thermometer to make sure the foods reach 165 degrees F, it's best not to risk it. If you did eat them and have symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, seek medical care.
How do you get rid of Listeria?
COOKED MEAT – Listeria
is killed by cooking
. Thoroughly cooking product to 165oF/74oC will kill the bacteria. Consumers at high risk for contracting listeriosis (e.g. pregnant women and the elderly) should reheat deli meats immediately before consumption. FREEZING – Listeria is not killed by freezing.
What is the incubation period for Listeria?
This form of disease is characterized by severe symptoms and a high mortality rate (20%–30%). The symptoms include fever, myalgia (muscle pain), septicemia, meningitis. The incubation period is usually
one to two weeks but can vary between a few days and up to 90 days.
What are the chances of getting Listeria?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 1,600 cases of listeriosis in the United States each year. But only
about one in seven cases
—or about 200 cases per year—occur in pregnant women, out of nearly 4 million pregnancies every year.
Can you get Listeria from eggs?
March 4, 2020. CDC, several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled eggs. Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that were part of this outbreak.
How serious is Listeria?
Is listeriosis a serious disease? Most people with invasive listeriosis require hospital care, and
about one in five people with the infection die
. When listeriosis occurs during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death.
How fast does Listeria make you sick?
People with invasive listeriosis usually report symptoms starting
1 to 4 weeks after eating food
contaminated with Listeria; some people have reported symptoms starting as late as 70 days after exposure or as early as the same day of exposure.
Can Listeria be passed from person to person?
Are Listeria Infections Contagious?
Listeriosis doesn't pass from person to person
. People become infected by ingesting contaminated food or fluids. However, a pregnant woman can pass the infection to her unborn baby.
How do you detect listeria?
A blood test
is often the most effective way to determine whether you have a listeria infection. In some cases, samples of urine or spinal fluid will be tested as well.
Can you test stool for listeria?
The UIHC clinical microbiology laboratory and the State Hygienic Laboratory do not perform stool cultures for Listeria. If stool is sent for Listeria culture, it will not be performed.
There is no reliable screening test for asymptomatic patients
.
Do you vomit with listeria?
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is a type of foodborne illness that can make some people very sick. Symptoms include fever and chills, headache, upset stomach, diarrhea and vomiting.
