Human Listeriosis

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen that can cause severe invasive infections upon ingestion with contaminated food. Clinically, listerial disease, or listeriosis, most often presents as bacteremia, meningitis or meningoencephalitis, and pregnancy-associated infections manifesting as miscarriage or neonatal sepsis.

Adjunctive dexamethasone treatment in adults with listeria monocytogenes meningitis: a prospective nationwide cohort study

“… 5 , 6 However, guidelines also advise to withhold dexamethasone if Listeria monocytogenes is suspected as causative pathogen and to stop dexamethasone treatment if L. monocytogenes is identified. 7 The rationale of this advice is mainly based on results of the MONALISA study, a French nationwide prospective cohort study. 8 In this study, adjunctive dexamethasone was associated with increased mortality in 252 patients with neurolisteriosis (48% vs 27%).…”

Enhancement of the Antibiofilm Activity of Nisin against Listeria monocytogenes Using Food Plant Extracts

“…It is a Gram-positive facultative rod bacterium and can grow in a temperature range of −1.5 °C to approximately 50 °C, with an optimum temperature between 30 and 37 °C [ 2 , 3 ]. L. monocytogenes infection, called listeriosis, is relatively rare, but potentially fatal, resulting in the development of bacteremia, meningitis, and miscarriage [ 4 ], and demonstrates 20–30% mortality rate, which is highest among foodborne pathogens [ 5 , 6 ]. While similar to other bacteria, the growth of L. monocytogenes is influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, and water activity [ 3 ], L. monocytogenes is ubiquitously prevalent in environments related to food production and processing and is highly tolerant to harsh environmental conditions [ 7 ].…”

Characterization of an Autoinducing Peptide Signal Reveals Highly Efficacious Synthetic Inhibitors and Activators of Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation in Listeria monocytogenes

“…Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for the foodborne illness listeriosis, which can cause severe infections in the immunocompromised, the young, the aged, and pregnant women. − Although listeriosis comprises only 0.1% of foodborne illnesses, this disease alone is responsible for nearly one-fifth of all foodborne illness-related deaths. − The notoriety of L. monocytogenes stems from multiple sources: its ubiquity in the environment, its high resistance and adaptability to environmental stressors, and its unique lifecycle within host cells that allows for growth and spread with minimal immune system interference. − Due to this intracellular lifestyle, antibiotics and other drugs must enter host cells to combat L. monocytogenes infection, which limits treatment options and often their efficacy. − New tools to curb the colonization, virulence, and spread of L.…”