Description Listeria is a bacte...
Description
Listeria is a bacteria that causes the food borne illness listeriosis. Listeriosis causes fever, chills, headache, and vomiting, and can be fatal. The bacteria listeria is unique because it can live and grow in the cold temperatures of the refrigerator. Only heat can kill this germ. The bacteria cannot be tasted or smelled and patients can become sick 2-30 days after eating infected foods. Pregnant women, patients with a weak immune system, and the elderly are the most susceptible and they should be extra careful with certain foods. The best way to prevent an infection is to use precooked foods and ready to eat foods as soon as possible, avoid raw milk, only eat cheeses made from pasteurized milk, wash fresh fruits and vegetables, scrub the outside of melons before cutting, and avoid eating meat and seafood that are not well cooked. Remember the best way to be safe about a food is to make sure it fully cooked at high temperatures since this is the only method to kill the bacteria.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary but include: fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, incoordination, and seizures. Pregnant women may only experience flu like symptoms and need to seek medical attention immediately since the infection can cause a miscarriage.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be done. The bacteria can be detected in the blood and spinal fluid (CSF).
Tests:
Blood culture, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Practice, Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be done. The bacteria can be detected in the blood and spinal fluid (CSF).
Tests:
Blood culture, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Practice, Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine
Treatment
Treatment requires intravenous antibiotics and the length of treatment varies depending on the location of the infection in the body. The antibiotics generally used are ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Co-trimoxazole) and chloramphenicol. Other treatment may be given depending on the severity of the infection.