Infection is acquired by consumption of contaminated food such as fish, salad, pate, soft cheeses, salami, ham and coleslaw, where contamination rates as high as 70% may occur.
L. monocytogenes cause listeriosis, characterized by symptoms of meningitis and intra-uterine infections in pregnant women.
Intra-uterine infection, which may rise to only mild symptoms in the mother, is usually followed by abortion or premature birth of the infected child.
Where listeria behave as opportunist pathogens of the gastrointestinal tract causing disease, symptoms may include nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, joint muscle pain vomiting, abdominal pain and cramps and myalgia, although they are not often a significant feature of infection, usually before the onset of fever.
Foods of most concern include ready to eat products that:
*support growth of L. monocytogenes
*have along refrigerated shelf life
*are consumed without further listericidal treatments
What are the symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection?
