Definition of Listeriosis

Listeriosis: An important public health problem in North America involving infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns, and anyone with immune compromise.

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. Infection during pregnancy may appear mild but can lead to stillbirth, premature delivery and infection of the newborn.

Persons at risk can prevent the infection by avoiding certain high-risk foods and by handling food properly. You should thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources (such as beef, pork, or poultry); keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables, cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods;. wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating them;. and avoid raw (unpasteurized) milk or foods made from raw milk.

The Listeria bacteria are named after the English surgeon and apostle of antisepsis, Joseph Lister (1827-1912).