Listeria

Listeria monocytogenes

Non-endospore-forming bacillus

Found in soil, water, and animals

Enters body via contaminated food and drink

Pathogensis & Epidemiology

• L. monocytogenes is an intracellular pathogen

  • Grows in phagocytes often in the gallbladder

• Listeriolysin S helps Listeria avoid digestion by thehost cell

• Virulence directly related to Listeria's ability to live within cells

• Can cause meningitis in certain at-risk groups

• Pregnant women can transmit Listeria to their fetus

  • Cause premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth, or meningitis in the newborn

Diagnosis

Presence of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with meningitis

Rarely seen in Gram-stained preparations

Treatment

Ampicillin

Other antibiotics used for patients allergic to penicillins

Prevention

At-risk individuals should avoid certain foods