Listeriosis Prevention Knowledge Among Pregnant Women in the USA

Abstract

Ordinarily the Gram-positive intracellular rod Listeria monocytogenes is an infrequent cause of self-limited febrile, foodborne gastrointestinal disease. In pregnant women, however, severe bacteremia is a possibility. It is estimated that pregnant women are 20 times likelier than healthy adults to become infected and, in fact, they reportedly account for 27% of all cases of listeriosis. Their vulnerability may reflect a progesterone-induced downregulation of cell-mediated immunity. Perinatal disease, which is not infrequent, may take the form of disseminated infection that usually is fatal to the fetus. Neonatal listeriosis may present as sepsis in the first week of life or as late-onset meningitis. Many women are unaware that taking simple precautions may prevent this disease. This survey of what women know and do not know about listeriosis enrolled 403 women from throughout the United States as well as 286 residents of Minnesota. Only 18% of women in the multistate survey and 15% of Minnesotans had some knowledge of listeriosis, usually from a medical professional. A connection with eating delicatessen meats was familiar to 33% of the U.S. sample and 17% of Minnesotans. The respective proportions of women who knew that listeriosis can be prevented by avoiding unpasteurized dairy products were 31% and 19%. More than 80% of both groups did avoid these products when pregnant, but many fewer pregnant women acknowledged avoiding delicatessen meats and ready-to-eat foods. These findings affirm a general lack of knowledge about listeriosis among women of childbearing age in the United States. More cases of perinatal listeriosis probably could be prevented were all pregnant women told about this infection.