A survey of laboratory-confirmed isolates of invasive listeriosis in Israel, 1997–2007

Abstract

During the 11-year period from 1997 to 2007, 321 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes from sporadic cases of invasive listeriosis were reported to the national reference laboratory in Israel. Of these isolates, 113 (35%) were identified from perinatal cases, and 208 (65%) from non-perinatal cases. The prevalent serovars were 4b, 1/2b, 1/2a and 4c. Serovar 4b was identified in 80.5% of the perinatal isolates (P=0.0162), while the number of 1/2b and 1/2a strains increased in the > or = 60 years old group (P=0.0285). Resistance to tetracycline was found in eight 4b isolates. The seasonal distribution showed that 206 isolates (64.2%) were submitted during the hot season (May-October). The estimated morbidity for the study period was 4.4 per million. The incidence of invasive listeriosis was higher in the perinatal group (5.6/100 000), than in individuals aged > or = 60 years (1.5/100 000).

Characterization of antibiogram fingerprints in Listeria monocytogenes recovered from irrigation water and agricultural soil samples

“…This causes the selective pressure that encourages the development of resistance in these pathogens especially via gene alterations or acquisition of mobile genetic elements [23]. In 1988, multidrug-resistant (MDR) L. monocytogenes was first isolated from a patient in France that suffered from meningoencephalitis [24]. In 1990, the first acquired antibiotic resistance in L. monocytogenes was described [25].…”

The Seasonality, Steroid and the Lower Ratio of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Associated With Listeriosis in Japan

“…One study from Taiwan reported that more than 36.7% of patients acquired invasive listeriosis in the spring [15], While research from England and Wales reported that summer was the predominant season of listeriosis onset [18]. In Israel, the incidence in nonperinatal women was 64.2% in the hot season (May-october) [19]. A study from France documented an increase of cases during the summer [20].…”

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

“…Este hecho contrasta con la distribución estacional conocida para los países del hemisferio norte donde la mayor concentración de casos se da en estos meses [22][23][24] , aunque en Finlandia se da un patrón mixto con casos en invierno y verano 25 . En el Reino Unido, el aumento estacional de casos ha sido asociado mediante modelos matemáticos a la temperatura del mes en curso o del mes precedente 24 , una explicación no aplicable a nuestro país por la baja incidencia de casos en verano.…”