Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
BackgroundListeriosis is an opportunistic bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes and predominantly affects people who are immunocompromised. Due to its severity and the population at risk, prompt clinical diagnosis and treatment of listeriosis is essential. A major step to making a clinical diagnosis is the collection of the appropriate specimen(s) for testing. This study explores factors that may influence the time between onset of illness and collection of specimen in order to inform clinical policy and develop necessary interventions.MethodsEnhanced surveillance data on non-pregnancy associated listeriosis in England and Wales between 2004 and 2013 were collected and analysed. The difference in days between onset of symptoms and collection of specimen was calculated and factors influencing the time difference were identified using a gamma regression model.ResultsThe median number of days between onset of symptoms and collection of specimen was two days with 27.1 % of cases reporting one day between onset of symptoms and collection of specimen and 18.8 % of cases reporting more than seven days before collection of specimen. The median number of days between onset of symptoms and collection of specimen was shorter for cases infected with Listeria monocytogenes serogroup 1/2b (one day) and cases with an underlying condition (one day) compared with cases infected with serotype 4 (two days) and cases without underlying conditions (two days).ConclusionsOur study has shown that Listeria monocytogenes serotype and the presence of an underlying condition may influence the time between onset of symptoms and collection of specimen.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1638-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Listeriosis is an opportunistic bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes and predominantly affects people who are immunocompromised
Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes
The clinical questionnaire [3], which is completed by the reporting laboratory, collects specific clinical information including: date of onset, date of specimen collection, presenting symptoms, principal illness, underlying medical conditions (any other ongoing illness, either acute or chronic, reported by the microbiologist including cancer, diabetes, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), cardiovascular disease, liver or kidney disease amongst others), current medications and patient survival
Summary
Listeriosis is an opportunistic bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes and predominantly affects people who are immunocompromised. Due to its severity and the population at risk, prompt clinical diagnosis and treatment of listeriosis is essential. Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It is a rather uncommon disease but often very severe and with a high case fatality rate [1]. Suspecting a patient has listeriosis can be challenging as infected patients can present with a range of clinical symptoms from non-specific gastroenteritis or influenza-like to those of severe invasive systemic illness. Where there is central nervous system (CNS) invasion, there is no Awofisayo-Okuyelu et al BMC Infectious Diseases (2016) 16:311 sign or symptom that securely differentiates listeriosis from other causes of CNS infection [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
