Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
What is Listeriosis
► Li ste ri osi s,
a serious infection caused by
eating food contaminated with the
bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, has
recently been recognized as an important
public health problem in the United States.
The disease affects primarily persons of
advanced age, pregnant women, newborns,
and adults with weakened immune systems.
However, persons without these risk factors
can also rarely be affected.
Lister iosis
► Listeriosis is caused by
Bacterial agent an
intracellular pathogen
Listeria Monocytogenes
► L.monocytogenes
produces infections
world wide
► Important cause of
infections in animals
and man.
List eri a M ono cytoge ns
► L.monocytogenes is a
Gram + ve non spore
forming.
► A specific character of
the organism manifest
with tumbling end or
over end motility at
220c – 280c but not at
370c
But makes the
Microbiologists to
identify from
Diptheriods, which are
mistaken and
specimens are
discarded.
Culture and Growth
Characteristics
► Grows on Muller Hinton
agar with sheep blood
as enrichment.
► Small zone of
Hemolysis can be
observed around and
the underneath of the
colony.
► Specimens are
enriched if the tissues
are kept at 40c and
plated on the media
( Cold enrichment )
Biochemcial reactions
► Bacteria are
facultative
anaerobic microbes
► Catalase + motile
► Listeria produce
acid and not gas in
various sugar
fermentation tests
Ant ige nic Cl as sificati on
► Pregnant women
► Newborns
► People with weakened immune
systems
► People who are taking immuno-
suppressing medication.
How H um an s co ntac t
Lister iosis
► Listeria monocytogenes can be found in a
variety of dairy products, vegetables, fish
and meat products.
► Listeria monocytogenes, unlike most other
harmful bacteria, will grow slowly on foods
stored in a refrigerator.
► Listeria monocytogenes can also be spread
by contact with an infected product or
surface, such as hands or counter tops,
during food preparation.
Pathogenesi s and
Pathol ogy
► ListeriaMonocytogenes enters through the
Gastro – intestinal tract after infections of
contaminated foods such as cheese or
vegetables,
► The cell wall surface protein called
Interanalin interacts with E –CADHERIN and
enters into epithelial cells
► Bacteria produce Listeriolysin
► L.monocygenes can move from cell to with
out being exposed to
Antibodies,Complement,Polymorphonuclear
cells
Immunity - Listeriosis
►L Monocytogenes is
primarily a
intracellular
pathogen.
► Immunity to
infection is
dependent on T cell
mediated immunity
( Cell mediated
Immunity CMI )
Who are at H igher Ri sk
► The following
conditions may be
impaired with defective
cell mediated Immunity
Pregnancy
AIDS
Lymphomas
Organ transplant
recipients
Com mon presenti ng
manif est atio n of
Listeri osi s
► Vomiting;
► Nausea;
► Cramps;
► Diarrhea;
► Severe Headache;
► Constipation; or
► Persistent fever.
Basis of Clinical manifestations
► Diagnosis
dependent on
isolation of
Organisms in
cultures obtained
on CSF, Blood, and
other fluids
Risk of Listeriosis with
consumed Food
Treatment
► Ampicillin
► Erythromycin
► Intravenous Trimethoprim – Sulphmethoxazole
► Cephalosporins and Fluroquinoles are
not active against l.monocytogens
► A comination of Gentamycin and
Ampicillin on clinical basis
CDC – on Listeriosis
► In 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) began a nationwide food-
borne disease surveillance program called
"FoodNet," in which seven states were
participating by January 1997. Results from
the program indicated that, in 1996, one
person out of every 200,000 people got
listeriosis. FoodNet also revealed that the
hospitalization rate was higher for listeriosis
(94%) than for any other food-borne illness.
In addition, FoodNet found that the Listeria
bacteria reached the blood and
cerebrospinal fluid in 89% of cases, a higher
percentage than in any other food-borne
illness.
Foods to Avoid
► Hot dogs, especially straight from the
package without further heating. The
fluid within hot dog packages may
contain more Listeria than the hot
dogs.
► Avoid spreading fluid from packages
onto other foods, cutting boards,
utensils, dishes and food preparation
surfaces. Wash your hands after
handling hot dogs.
Ideal way to prevent
Listeriosis
► Completely cook all meats and eggs.
► Carefully wash raw vegetables before
eating.
► Keep raw meat away from raw vegetables
and prepared foods. After cutting raw meat,
wash the cutting board with detergent
before using it for vegetables.
► Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk or foods
made from such milk.
► Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw
meat.
► Follow the instructions on food labels.
Observe food expiration dates and storage
conditions.
Created for awareness
to Medical and
Paramedical students
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
Email
doctortvrao@gmail.com