A Point-Source Foodborne Listeriosis Outbreak: Documented Incubation Period And Possible Mild Illness

Abstract

Listeria bacteremia occurred in 2 pregnant women whose only common exposure was attendance at a party. The incubation period, the possibility of mild disease due to Listeria infection, and foods associated with risk of disease were evaluated. Ten (28%) of 36 party attenders met a case definition, which included isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from blood or stool or two of the following: fever, musculoskeletal symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. One of 25 stool cultures was positive. The 2 blood isolates and 1 stool isolate were serotype 4b and identical by enzyme typing. The incubation periods for illness in the 2 pregnant women were 19 and 23 days. Consumption of large amounts of shrimp, nonalcoholic beverages, Camembert cheese, and cauliflower was significantly associated with illness. Eating shrimp remained a significant risk factor for illness after controlling for consumption of other foods. This study suggests a milder illness may exist in healthy persons who consume foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes and demonstrates a prolonged incubation period for disease.

Infecciones por Listeria monocytogenes, una experiencia de dos décadas: A two decade experience

“…Aunque es posible que hayan correspondido a infecciones asociadas a la atención de salud, tal como ha sido descrito en Chile en unidades neonatales 16 o ligados a una transmisión por alimentos 36,41 , también es plausible que correspondan a eventos comunitarios que se manifestaron en el hospital luego de un período de incubación en su hogar, el que puede ser prolongado y contemplar varias semanas 42 . Uno de los casos apareció a los 7 días de ingresar por insuficiencia respiratoria tras el uso de corticosteroides y el otro, a los 10 días, luego del ingreso por hemorragia subaracnoídea, sin haber recibido alimentación oral.…”

“…A pesar de que pocos pacientes contaron con una encuesta alimentaria luego del diagnóstico, en los casos que se hizo, se pudo identificar algún alimento sospechoso: quesos o productos lácteos no pasteurizados, cecinas y/o alimentos preparados. En todos ellos se ha encontrado evidencia de contaminación por L. monocytogenes en Chile 26,27 y han sido ampliamente vinculados a casos esporádicos o brotes comunitarios 2,3,42,47,48 lo que sugiere un posible rol causal y deja en evidencia la gran deuda educativa que existe sobre estos pacientes susceptibles. Las recomendaciones para estos pacientes incluyen evitar el consumo de embutidos, a menos que se recalienten hasta temperatura de cocción, evitar que el líquido de alimentos crudos contamine en forma cruzada otros alimentos, lavarse las manos después de preparar embutidos y carnes, no consumir quesos gourmet o blancos, paté o pastas de carne refrigeradas y mariscos o pescados ahumados refrigerados.…”

Scientific Opinion on the minimum hygiene criteria to be applied to clean seawater and on the public health risks and hygiene criteria for bottled seawater intended for domestic use

“…monocytogenes is widespread in the environment and commonly occurs in surface waters (Colburn et al, 1990;Wilkes et al, 2011) which will consequently contaminate estuarine and coastal waters (Beleneva, 2011;Bou-m'handi et al, 2007;Colburn et al, 1990;El-Shenawy and El-Shenawy, 2006;El Marrakchi et al, 2005;Hansen et al, 2006;Rodas-Suarez et al, 2006;Rorvik et al, 1995). Consumption of contaminated processed fish and shellfish has been associated with transmission of infection (Brett et al, 1998;Ericsson et al, 1997;Facinelli et al, 1989;Farber et al, 2000;Lyytikainen et al, 2006;Misrachi, 1991;Mitchell, 1991;Riedo et al, 1994;Tham et al, 2000). The fish and shellfish implicated in disease transmission were processed, ready-to-eat, able to support the growth of this bacterium and likely to have been contaminated at the point of processing, although the presence of the bacterium in raw product can not be excluded as a source of contamination in food processing environments.…”

Application of Specific Chromogenic Media and Api Technique for Rapid Confirmation of Listeria monocytogenes in Bulk Tank Milk and Dairy Farms Environment

“…Listeriosis is one of the most important infections in Europe (European Food Safety Authority-European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2007) and in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that approximately 1,600 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year, of whom 16% die (CDC, 2011). Exposure to food borne L. monocytogenes may cause fever, muscle aches and gastroenteritis (Riedo et al, 1994). In pregnant women, it may cause abortion (Linnan et al, 1988 andRiedo et al, 1994) or neonatal death (Linnan et al, 1988), although there are rates of illnesses caused by L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii and L. innocua (Jeyaletchumi et al, 2010).…”

“…Exposure to food borne L. monocytogenes may cause fever, muscle aches and gastroenteritis (Riedo et al, 1994). In pregnant women, it may cause abortion (Linnan et al, 1988 andRiedo et al, 1994) or neonatal death (Linnan et al, 1988), although there are rates of illnesses caused by L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii and L. innocua (Jeyaletchumi et al, 2010).…”