Listeria infectionDefinitionBy Mayo Clinic staff
Listeria infection is a bacterial disease foods that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. Listeria infection is usually processed by eating properly cured meats and unpasteurized dairy products not forgive.
Healthy people rarely become ill from listeria infection, but the disease can be fatal for unborn babies and newborns can. People whose immune systems have weakened at a higher risk of life-threatening complications. Prompt treatment with antibiotics can to mitigate the effects of listeria infection.
Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing. That's why people who are at a higher risk for severe infections should avoid eating the types of foods most likely to contain listeria.
SymptomsBy Mayo Clinic staff
If you develop a Listeria infection can cause:
Fever
Muscle Pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Symptoms may begin a few days after you have eaten contaminated food, but it can take up to two months before the first signs and symptoms of infection starts to take.
If the listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms may include:
A Headache
Stiff Neck
Confusion or changes in alertness
Loss of balance
Cramps
Symptoms during pregnancy and in the newborn
During pregnancy, a listeria infection probable cause only mild signs and symptoms in the mother. The consequences for the baby, but it can be devastating. The baby can die unexpectedly before birth, or experience a life-threatening infection within the first few days after birth.
As in adults can be subtle signs and symptoms of Listeria infection in a newborn, but may include:
Little interest in feeding
Irritability
Fever
Vomit
When to see a doctor
If you eat a food that has been recalled because of a Listeria outbreak, pay close attention to any signs or symptoms of disease. If you experience fever, muscle pain, nausea or diarrhea, ask your doctor. The same applies prepared for illness after eating a potentially contaminated product, such as foods with unpasteurized milk or poorly heated hot dogs or sausages.
If you experience a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or sensitivity to light, seek emergency care. These symptoms may indicate bacterial meningitis, a potentially life-threatening complication of Listeria infection.
CausesBy Mayo Clinic staff
Listeria bacteria in soil, water and animal feces are found. People are usually infected by eating:
Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or from contaminated manure as fertilizer
Infected animal meat
Pasteurized milk or foods made with raw milk
Certain processed foods - such as soft cheese, hot dogs and sausages, which were contaminated after processing
Fetus can listeria infection from the mother via the placenta contract.
Risk FactorsBy Mayo Clinic staff
Pregnant women and people who have weak immune systems are at the highest risk of contracting listeria infection.Pregnant women and their babies
Pregnant women are more susceptible to Listeria infections than other healthy adults. Although a listeria infection can only be one of the mother mild illness can cause consequences for the baby are:
Miscarriage
Stillbirth
Premature birth
A potentially fatal infection after birth
People who have weak immune systems
This category includes people who:
Are older than 65 years
Have AIDS
Be in chemotherapy
Diabetes or kidney disease
Record high dose prednisone or certain rheumatic arthritis drugs
Take medications to block the rejection of a transplanted organ
ComplicationsBy Mayo Clinic staff
Most Listeria infections are so mild they may go unnoticed. : Including - but in some cases a Listeria infection can cause life-threatening complications
A general blood infection (sepsis)
Inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain (meningitis)
Complications of a listeria infection can the heaviest to an unborn baby. Early in pregnancy, a listeria infection lead to a miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, a listeria infection stillbirth, premature birth or a potentially fatal infection in the baby lead after birth - even if the mother is only mildly ill.
Preparing for your appointmentBy Mayo Clinic staff
If you eat food that has been recalled due to listeria contamination, consult a doctor if you experience the signs and symptoms of listeria infection.What you can do
Before the appointment, you might want to write a list that answers the following questions:
What are your symptoms and when they begin?
Are you pregnant? If so, how far are you?
She is being treated for any other medical conditions?
What medications and supplements do you take?
You might want to write a food diary, in which all the foods that you have every day as far back as you can remember safely eaten. If food that you have eaten placed on a recall in connection bring this information to your provider.What to expect from your doctor expect
To help in the diagnosis, your doctor may ask you if you have used recently:
Soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, feta, cream cheese queso fresco or
Raw milk or cheese from raw (unpasteurized) milk
Meats such as hot dogs and sausages
Any food that can be accommodated in a food recall in conjunction recentlyTests and diagnosisBy Mayo Clinic staff
A blood test is often the most effective way to determine if you have a listeria infection. In some cases, the sample of urine or spinal fluid as can also be tested.Treatments and drugsBy Mayo Clinic staff
Treatment of Listeria infection varies, depending on the severity of symptoms. Most people with mild symptoms do not require treatment. More severe infections may be treated with antibiotics.
The rapid treatment can help with antibiotics, the infection by the baby during pregnancy. Newborns, a listeria infection can get a combination of antibiotics.PreventionBy Mayo Clinic staff
To prevent Listeria infection, simply follow food safety guidelines:
Keep things clean. Before and after handling and preparing food Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. After cooking with hot, soapy water to wash the utensils, cutting board and other food preparation surfaces.
Scrub raw vegetables. Clean raw vegetables with a brush or vegetable brush under running water.
Cook your food thoroughly. With a food thermometer to make sure your meat, poultry and egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature.
Precautions for the people most at risk
If you are at risk of Listeria infection - you are pregnant or have a weak immune system - you should be especially careful Listeria. Take extra precautions with these types of food:
Listeria infection is a bacterial disease foods that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. Listeria infection is usually processed by eating properly cured meats and unpasteurized dairy products not forgive.
Healthy people rarely become ill from listeria infection, but the disease can be fatal for unborn babies and newborns can. People whose immune systems have weakened at a higher risk of life-threatening complications. Prompt treatment with antibiotics can to mitigate the effects of listeria infection.
Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing. That's why people who are at a higher risk for severe infections should avoid eating the types of foods most likely to contain listeria.
SymptomsBy Mayo Clinic staff
If you develop a Listeria infection can cause:
Fever
Muscle Pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Symptoms may begin a few days after you have eaten contaminated food, but it can take up to two months before the first signs and symptoms of infection starts to take.
If the listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms may include:
A Headache
Stiff Neck
Confusion or changes in alertness
Loss of balance
Cramps
Symptoms during pregnancy and in the newborn
During pregnancy, a listeria infection probable cause only mild signs and symptoms in the mother. The consequences for the baby, but it can be devastating. The baby can die unexpectedly before birth, or experience a life-threatening infection within the first few days after birth.
As in adults can be subtle signs and symptoms of Listeria infection in a newborn, but may include:
Little interest in feeding
Irritability
Fever
Vomit
When to see a doctor
If you eat a food that has been recalled because of a Listeria outbreak, pay close attention to any signs or symptoms of disease. If you experience fever, muscle pain, nausea or diarrhea, ask your doctor. The same applies prepared for illness after eating a potentially contaminated product, such as foods with unpasteurized milk or poorly heated hot dogs or sausages.
If you experience a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or sensitivity to light, seek emergency care. These symptoms may indicate bacterial meningitis, a potentially life-threatening complication of Listeria infection.
CausesBy Mayo Clinic staff
Listeria bacteria in soil, water and animal feces are found. People are usually infected by eating:
Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or from contaminated manure as fertilizer
Infected animal meat
Pasteurized milk or foods made with raw milk
Certain processed foods - such as soft cheese, hot dogs and sausages, which were contaminated after processing
Fetus can listeria infection from the mother via the placenta contract.
Risk FactorsBy Mayo Clinic staff
Pregnant women and people who have weak immune systems are at the highest risk of contracting listeria infection.Pregnant women and their babies
Pregnant women are more susceptible to Listeria infections than other healthy adults. Although a listeria infection can only be one of the mother mild illness can cause consequences for the baby are:
Miscarriage
Stillbirth
Premature birth
A potentially fatal infection after birth
People who have weak immune systems
This category includes people who:
Are older than 65 years
Have AIDS
Be in chemotherapy
Diabetes or kidney disease
Record high dose prednisone or certain rheumatic arthritis drugs
Take medications to block the rejection of a transplanted organ
ComplicationsBy Mayo Clinic staff
Most Listeria infections are so mild they may go unnoticed. : Including - but in some cases a Listeria infection can cause life-threatening complications
A general blood infection (sepsis)
Inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain (meningitis)
Complications of a listeria infection can the heaviest to an unborn baby. Early in pregnancy, a listeria infection lead to a miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, a listeria infection stillbirth, premature birth or a potentially fatal infection in the baby lead after birth - even if the mother is only mildly ill.
Preparing for your appointmentBy Mayo Clinic staff
If you eat food that has been recalled due to listeria contamination, consult a doctor if you experience the signs and symptoms of listeria infection.What you can do
Before the appointment, you might want to write a list that answers the following questions:
What are your symptoms and when they begin?
Are you pregnant? If so, how far are you?
She is being treated for any other medical conditions?
What medications and supplements do you take?
You might want to write a food diary, in which all the foods that you have every day as far back as you can remember safely eaten. If food that you have eaten placed on a recall in connection bring this information to your provider.What to expect from your doctor expect
To help in the diagnosis, your doctor may ask you if you have used recently:
Soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, feta, cream cheese queso fresco or
Raw milk or cheese from raw (unpasteurized) milk
Meats such as hot dogs and sausages
Any food that can be accommodated in a food recall in conjunction recentlyTests and diagnosisBy Mayo Clinic staff
A blood test is often the most effective way to determine if you have a listeria infection. In some cases, the sample of urine or spinal fluid as can also be tested.Treatments and drugsBy Mayo Clinic staff
Treatment of Listeria infection varies, depending on the severity of symptoms. Most people with mild symptoms do not require treatment. More severe infections may be treated with antibiotics.
The rapid treatment can help with antibiotics, the infection by the baby during pregnancy. Newborns, a listeria infection can get a combination of antibiotics.PreventionBy Mayo Clinic staff
To prevent Listeria infection, simply follow food safety guidelines:
Keep things clean. Before and after handling and preparing food Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. After cooking with hot, soapy water to wash the utensils, cutting board and other food preparation surfaces.
Scrub raw vegetables. Clean raw vegetables with a brush or vegetable brush under running water.
Cook your food thoroughly. With a food thermometer to make sure your meat, poultry and egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature.
Precautions for the people most at risk
If you are at risk of Listeria infection - you are pregnant or have a weak immune system - you should be especially careful Listeria. Take extra precautions with these types of food:
Hot dogs, luncheon meats and sausages. Avoid hot dogs, luncheon meats and sausages, unless they are heated until steaming hot. Keep fluid from hot dog packages from other foods, dishes and food preparation surfaces. After handling hot dogs wash, luncheon meats and sausages hands.
Meat spreads. Do not eat refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads are acceptable.
Cooling smoked fish and seafood. Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood. Such products can be characterized as jerky nova style, lox, or kippered. An exception is when you use these products in a casserole or other hot dishes. Canned or shelf-stable smoked fish is acceptable.