By Iron Chefs AJ and Greg

Summary Can be found in soil, water, poultry, or cattle Can last weeks Relatively rare Only 1600 cases reported in USA Of which, 260 were fatal Pregnant women are 20 times more likely to develop this May cause miscarriages in the first trimester if not treated rapidly In pregnant women in the third trimester, this may cause premature labor or infant death Infected newborns may have mental retardation; paralysis; heart, liver, or kidney defects; or blindness

Symptoms and Onset Time Sets in between three and 70 days Average onset time is three weeks Symptoms include Fever Stiff neck Vomiting Confusion Weakness Sometimes preceded by diarrhea

Foods in Which It Is Found Unpasteurized milk Deli meats Hot dogs Raw sprouts Refrigerated smoked seafood Soft cheeses using unpasteurized milk

Transmission Through foods containing the bacteria Most often form of transmission Improperly processed or handled foods Soil and water Non-contagious

Prevention and Treatment Babies receive the same medication as adults There are no vaccines against Listeriosis Treatment consists of antibiotics injected through an IV Generally lasts about 10 days, but depends on the body’s ability to fight off infection

Listeria Monocytogenes

Bibliography listeriosis/ listeriosis/ isteria.html isteria.html viruses/listeria/index.html viruses/listeria/index.html listeriosis/ listeriosis/