Listeria Infections

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

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For You

• Children
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Listeriosis is a foodborne illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria found in soil and water. It can be in a variety of raw foods as well as in processed foods and foods made from unpasteurized milk. Listeria is unlike many other germs because it can grow even in the cold temperature of the refrigerator.

Symptoms include fever and chills, headache, upset stomach and vomiting. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Anyone can get the illness. But it is most likely to affect pregnant women and unborn babies, older adults, and people with weak immune systems. To reduce your risk:

• Use precooked and ready-to-eat foods as soon as you can
• Avoid raw milk and raw milk products
• Heat ready-to-eat foods and leftovers until they are steaming hot
• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables
• Avoid rare meat and refrigerated smoked seafood

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• About Listeria Infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

• Symptoms of Listeria Infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• How to Prevent Listeria Infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• What You Need to Know About Preventing Listeria Infections (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Listeria Infections (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Source attribution of Listeria monocytogenes in the Netherlands.
• Article: Deletion of glycosyltransferase galE impairs the InlB anchoring and pathogenicity of...
• Listeria Infections -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• Food and Drug Administration
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Children

• Listeria Infections (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Women

• Listeria and Pregnancy (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
• Listeria from Food Safety for Moms to Be (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• Listeria Infection (Listeriosis) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Listeriosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish