Listeriosis
Listeriosis, a serious infection. Listeria infections are caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes . Infection is rare, but when it does occur it most frequently affects pregnant women in their last trimester, newborns, and children and adults whose immunity is weakened by diseases such as cancer or AIDS. Listeriosis can be picked up from infected food, particularly pâté, certain cheeses, and unwashed fruit and vegetables, including pre-packed salad. People who have had various types of transplants are also more at risk for listeriosis.Listeria bacteria can be transmitted through soil and water. A person can also ingest listeria by eating certain foods, such as deli meats and cold cuts, soft-ripened cheese, milk, undercooked chicken, uncooked hot dogs, shellfish, and coleslaw made from contaminated cabbage. An increased susceptibility to listeriosis in the mother. According to the CDC, pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. In fact, about one-third of listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy. Listeriosis can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta even if the mother is not showing signs of illness.
This can lead to premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious health problems for her newborn amd theoretical possibility that Listeria monocytogenes could be transmitted via mother's milk, this has never been proven. In mice infected with L. monocytogenes, the bacteria first appear in macrophages and then spread to hepatocytes in the liver. The bacteria stimulate a CMI response that includes the production of TNF, gamma interferon, macrophage activating factors and a cytotoxic T cell response. Possibly, in humans, a failure to control L. monocytogenes by means of CMI allows the bacteria to spread systemically. As well, unlike other bacterial pathogens, Listeria are able to penetrate the endothelial layer of the placenta and thereby infect the fetus.
Causes of Listeriosis
Common causes of Listeriosis
- Unpasteurized milk.
- Contaminated vegetables.
- Infection.
- lesions on the skin.
- Fetus in utero.
- Septicemia and meningitis.
- Abscesses.
- Skin lesion.
- Conjunctivitis .
Symptoms of Listeriosis
Common symptoms of Listeriosis
- Fever.
- Intense headache.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Meningeal irritation.
- Increased pressure inside the skull.
- Stillbirth.
- Loss of balance.
- Convulsions.
- Diarrhoea.
Treatment of Legionnaires Disease
Common Treatment of Listeriosis
- Listeriosis is usually treated with antibiotics Ampicillin and administered in the hospital through an intravenous catheter. Typically, treatment lasts for about 10 days but that can vary depending on the body's ability to fight off the infection.
- If you're in a high-risk group, avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined and Mexican-style cheeses unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk.
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used as an alternative therapy.
- Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is an ingredient in a cooked dish such as a casserole.
- When in doubt, throw it out. If you are not sure whether a food is safe, don't eat it. Reheating food that is contaminated will not make it safe. Don't taste suspicious food. It may smell and look fine but still may not be safe to eat.
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