DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001800 ISSN: 0022-2615
Listeria monocytogenes: the silent assassin
Emily T. Fotopoulou, Claire Jenkins, Anaïs Painset, Corinne Amar- Microbiology (medical)
- General Medicine
- Microbiology
Graphical abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is ubiquitous in both plant and animal reservoirs. It can persist in food production environments due to its capacity to grow at refrigerated temperatures and its resistance to biocides. The source of most human infections is contaminated food. Healthy individuals present with mild gastrointestinal symptoms. However, in immunocompromised individuals the infection is more severe, causing bacteraemia, meningitis and, in pregnancy-associated listeriosis, miscarriage and stillbirth. In vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women and their infants, listeriosis has a 20–30% mortality rate.