Case Of Listeriosis Research Articles

Pre-packaged cold-chain ready-to-eat food as a source of sporadic listeriosis in Beijing, China

Using a sporadic case of listeriosis suspected to have been caused by consuming a pre-packaged cold-chain ready-to-eat (RTE) food in Beijing, China in 2021 as an exemplar, this study demonstrated the importance of thoroughly investigating the source of listeriosis up to the production point for mitigating infection risk during routine monitoring of Listeria in food facilities and national surveillance program using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Epidemiological, laboratory, traceback, and plant investigations were used to identify the source of infection. WGS showed the isolate from the patient was genetically indistinguishable from that of the implicated food. During a plant investigation, L. monocytogenes was detected in 26% (9/35) of the environmental samples and one of two raw material samples, confirming the source. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation in China linking a case of L. monocytogenes infection to a suspected food and its production environment. This report highlights the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination of RTE food and demonstrates the role of food safety risk monitoring in identifying potential sources of infection. Reinforcing control programs in RTE processing plants, intensified surveillance of microorganisms in food products and targeted health education is required to mitigate the infection risk.

Recurrent, ICD-associated L. monocytogenes bacteraemia with multiple septic pulmonary embolisms over a 2-year period

BackgroundListeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen known for causing listeriosis, a foodborne illness with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from mild gastroenteritis to severe invasive disease, particularly affecting immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly. Successful treatment of patients with recurring listeria episodes due to colonised foreign material is often challenging, typically requiring a combination of antimicrobial treatment and surgical removal.Case presentationHere, we present a particularly complex case of chronic invasive listeriosis with a total of six relapses. After extensive investigations, the patient's ICD device was identified as the focus of infection.ConclusionThe confirmation of relapses through cgMLST analysis highlights the persistence of Listeria monocytogenes and the potential for recurrence even after apparent resolution of symptoms in patients with foreign material. It emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive assessment to identify and mitigate the risk of relapses, thereby ensuring optimal management and outcomes.

Potential zoonotic agents in sea turtles: Chlamydia species and Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract Background Sea turtles are well recognized sentinels of marine environment as well as carrier of pathogens and contaminants. Chlamydial species have been described in reptiles, but scarce data regarding sea turtles are available in literature (Pace et al., 2022). Hitherto, only one case of listeriosis has been described in marine reptiles (Di Renzo et al., 2022). This study reports the detection of Chlamydia species and Listeria monocytogenes in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), suggesting the role of these animals as carriers of potential zoonotic agents. Methods In 2022, a total of 11 sea turtles found stranded along Emilia-Romagna coast, Northwestern Adriatic Sea, were subjected to post mortem investigation. Cloacal swabs were collected from 10 of the investigated animals and screened for Chlamydiaceae family by qPCR targeting 23S rRNA gene, followed by confirmation via 16S rRNA fragment sequencing. For positive samples, Chlamydia species identification was performed by species-specific qPCR for C. abortus, C. pneumoniae, C. pecorum, C. psittaci. One subject showed internal organs disseminated with multiple nodular lesions that were sampled for histopathology analyses, alongside microbiological examination. The cultured isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF (MALDI Biotyper; Bruker Daltonics Inc). Results In six out of 10 cloacal swabs Chlamydiaceae DNA was demonstrated by qPCR and confirmed by sequencing of 16S rRNA, but species identification was not achieved. In the turtle with nodular lesions, histopathology revealed the presence of granulomas: the Ziehl-Neelsen stain was negative for acid-fast organisms. L. monocytogenes was isolated from heart and liver and listeriosis was diagnosed. Conclusions The results highlight how sea turtles can be carriers, symptomatic or not, of pathogens relevant for public health. Given the zoonotic potential of these microorganisms, particular precautions are recommended especially for professionals handling these animals. Key messages • Sea turtles can play an active role as carriers of possibly pathogenetic microorganisms. • Further studies of molecular identification of Chlamydia spp. from sea turtles are needed in atypical strains.

Listeriosis in the third trimester of pregnancy: the course of the disease and outcomes for the mother and fetus

Listeriosis mainly affects immunocompromised people, including pregnant women. Listeriosis is 17 times more common in pregnancy than in the population and lead to severe complications for the fetus or newborn. In Russia 644 cases of listeriosis were registered from 2005 to 2017. Every case of listeriosis in pregnant women requires a special analysis. This will increase the alertness of doctors and their awareness of the features of this disease and its treatment in pregnant women.Aims – to study the features of listeriosis in the third trimester of pregnancy, the outcomes of the disease for the pregnant woman and the fetus.Materials and methods. We studied 4 cases of listeriosis in the third trimester of pregnancy, identified in the Clinical Infectious Hospital named after S.P. Botkin in the period from 2020 to 2021.Results. All patients were admitted to the hospital in the third trimester of pregnancy with suspected acute respiratory viral infection, from 1 to 4 days after the onset of the disease. The leading symptom was fever. Leukocytosis was in a clinical blood test, and the value of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were increased. L. monocytogenes was identified after childbirth during bacteriological examination of mothers and newborns. All the women gave birth during the first day after admission to the hospital. Two women had vaginal deliveries, and two women delivered by cesarean section. All children were born alive, but they all were transferred to the children’s hospital for additional treatment. Finally, one child died, and the other three recovered.Conclusions. Listeriosis of pregnant women is a severe infectious disease that leads to perinatal losses. The search for laboratory techniques that could be widely and routinely used in pregnant women with fever for early identification of L. monocytogenes is relevant. Early identification of this pathogen will make it possible to reasonably choose antibiotics and their dosages, improve prognoses for mother and child.

Quantitative microbiological risk assessment for the occurrence of listeriosis in Brazil due to the consumption of milk processed by pasteurization or thermosonication

This study aimed to estimate the risk of listeriosis from the consumption of pasteurized milk in Brazil, comparing conventional treatment with the technology of thermosonication. The Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (QMRA) model was developed, covering the entire milk production chain, from milking to the moment of consumption. In general, higher risks were observed in association with higher initial concentrations of the pathogen and the vulnerable population. The highest risk predicted (3.67 × 10−5) was related to the scenario considering the initial concentration range of L. monocytogenes between 4 and 6 log CFU/mL, with conventional treatment and considering the vulnerable population, resulting in one case of listeriosis every 27,248 servings. When considering thermosonication treatment, lower risks have been predicted. The scenario analysis indicated that the steps related to storage conditions in retail and at the consumer's home (post-processing steps) are the most influential in the associated risk, in all scenarios. The predictive parameters of inactivation related to the applied treatment also have a considerable influence on the risk. The results point to the influence of the stages of the dairy production chain and the thermosonication treatment applied in the food safety of milk, subsidizing information for industrial application and for regulatory agencies.

Fatal neonatal listeriosis following L. monocytogenes horizontal transmission highlights neonatal susceptibility to orally acquired listeriosis

We report a case of fulminant fatal neonatal listeriosis due to horizontal transmission of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in a neonatal double room. Genomic analyses reveal a close genetic relationship between clinical isolates, supporting cross-contamination. Oral inoculation experiments in adult and neonatal mice show that neonates are susceptible to a low Lm inoculum and that this susceptibility results from the immaturity of the neonatal gut microbiota. Infected neonates should therefore be isolated for as long as they shed Lm in their feces to avoid horizontal transmission and its dire consequences.

Draft Genome Sequences of Closely Related Listeria monocytogenes Lineage III Strains Isolated from a Food Processing Environment and a Case of Human Listeriosis.

Listeria monocytogenes lineage III is genetically highly diverse, and closely related lineage III strains from food facilities and human listeriosis have not been reported. Here, we report the genome sequences of three closely related lineage III strains from Hawaii, namely, one isolated from a human case and two isolated from a produce storage facility.

First Report of Septicaemic Listeriosis in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Stranded along the Adriatic Coast: Strain Detection and Sequencing

Although there are increasing reports on the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in wild species, this is the first case of listeriosis in sea turtle. An adult female Caretta caretta was rescued after being stranded alive along the coast of the Abruzzo region (Italy) in summer 2021. The turtle died in 6 days due to respiratory failure. The necropsy showed widespread organ lesions, such as yellow foci of necrosis in many organs, gastrointestinal erosions, pericarditis, and granulomatous pneumonia. Microbiological and histological analyses were performed on several organs. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from multiple organs, indicating a case of septicaemic listeriosis, and the genome was sequenced and characterized. All the colonies analysed belonged to the same strain serogroup IVb, ST388, and CC388.

КЛИНИЧЕСКОЕ НАБЛЮДЕНИЕ НЕБЛАГОПРИЯТНОГО ИСХОДА НЕОНАТАЛЬНОГО ЛИСТЕРИОЗА

A clinical case of neonatal listeriosis with an unfavorable outcome is presented. The first symptoms of the disease in a newborn appeared on the 3rd day, intrauterine infection was suspected on the 5th day. A evolving clinical picture with death on day 9 is described. The issues of the ongoing antibiotic therapy are discussed. The diagnosis of neonatal listeriosis was confirmed by the results of postmortem and morphological examination of the deceased newborn. The cause of his death was an early form of listeria infection (septicemia) with damage mainly to the lungs and liver. Specialists who provide care for pregnant women, newborns and children should be alert for listeria infection.

Листериозный менингоэнцефалит в современных условиях (клиническое наблюдение у ребенка 7 лет)

Listeria infection, including that affecting the central nervous system, is a relatively rare disease usually diagnosed in newborns, elderly people, and immunocompromised patients. However, in recent years, listeriosis was frequently detected in healthy people. We report a case of listeriosis with lesions to the central nervous system (meningoencephalitis) in an 8-year-old child without obvious immunodeficiency. We described the difficulties associated with diagnostic search and treatment strategy with early initiation of cytoflavin, which had a complex effect and facilitated improvement. Key words: children, listeriosis, meningitis, encephalitis, cytoflavin

Early-Onset Neonatal listeriosis –A Case Report

A 25-year-old primigravida in her 30 weeks of gestation presented with fever and some flu-like symptoms. There was minimal vaginal discharge. Keeping in view the possibility of chorioamnionitis a prompt intravenous infusion of antibiotics was instituted with continuous external monitoring of fetal heart rate. An emergency cesarean section was performed 3 hours later for persistent fetal tachycardia suggestive of fetal distress. A preterm baby girl was born with evidence of respiratory distress requiring ventilatory support. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from newborn’s blood culture, tracheal secretions and the placental swab, confirming neonatal listeriosis. Cerebro-spinal fluid examination did not reveal evidence of meningitis. Prompt laboratory diagnosis and aggressive antibiotic treatment led to complete recovery of the infant from septicemia. This represents the first reported case of early-onset neonatal listeriosis in Malaysia

Atypical presentation of listeriosis in pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

Acute hepatitis is an unusual manifestation of listeriosis. Most patients with listeriosis present with fever, flu-like illness and gastroenteritis symptoms due to consumption of contaminated food. Pregnancy-associated Listeria monocytogenes infection commonly occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy compared to early trimesters. We report a case of listeriosis in the first trimester of pregnancy, which presented with the acute onset of jaundice and was successfully treated with ampicillin.

Severe Sepsis Caused by Listeria monocytogenes in A Patient Given Monoclonal Antibodies Against CD38 and Proteosome Inhibitor

Severe Sepsis Caused by Listeria monocytogenes in A Patient Given Monoclonal Antibodies Against CD38 and Proteosome Inhibitor

Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) as a Rare Complication of Invasive Listeriosis: A Closer Look at Empiric SBP Coverage

Introduction: Listeria monocytogenes is an anaerobic gram-positive rod that is transmitted from contaminated food or animal products. Listeriosis is a rare but deadly disease with approximately 1600 cases per year and mortality rate of approximately 16%. Rarely, listeria has been shown to cause spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), with approximately 50 cases reported in literature. We present a rare case of invasive listeriosis manifesting with bacteremia, pericarditis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Case Report: A 58-year old female with past medical history of decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and poorly controlled diabetes presented with a one week history of shortness of breath and dyspnea on exertion. Initial workup revealed severe pericarditis with early cardiac tamponade physiology and patient underwent urgent pericardiocentesis and pericardial window procedures. Following the procedure, the patient developed fevers and abdominal pain. Blood cultures were obtained and paracentesis was performed that revealed an absolute neutrophil count of 15,700 cells/mm3. The patient was empirically started on a third generation cephalosporin for empiric SBP coverage. Subsequently she developed high fevers and worsening sepsis and blood and peritoneal fluid cultures both grew listeria monocytogenes. Antimicrobial therapy was switched to piperacillin-tazobactam with progressive clinical improvement. The patient was discharged to rehab facility after a one month hospitalization and finished a prolonged treatment course with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Upon further questioning she did admit to frequently eating soft cheeses and deli meats; however, no absolute source of infection was identified. Discussion: Listeria often results in self-limited gastroenteritis in normal hosts, but may manifest with severe invasive disease in immunocompromised or pregnant patients. Listeria has been infrequently reported as a cause of SBP and is often associated with poor clinical outcomes in these cases. Empiric coverage for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis usually involves a third generation cephalosporin to provide coverage for enterobacteriaceae such as E. Coli or Klebsiella species. In our patient, conventional SBP empiric coverage failed to appropriately treat her infection and the patient clinically worsened. Atypical organisms such as listeria may circumvent empiric SBP coverage, making clinical suspicion for these organisms paramount in select cases.

Listeriosis Complicating Infliximab Treatment in Crohn's Disease

Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive rod, infects the central nervous system in neonates, pregnant woman and those immunosuppressed by naturally occurring illnesses and by therapeutic agents, including agents such as infliximab. We report here the first published case of Listeriosis complicating Infliximab therapy in Crohn's disease in Australia.

Use of Whole Genome Sequencing and Patient Interviews To Link a Case of Sporadic Listeriosis to Consumption of Prepackaged Lettuce

We report on a case of listeriosis in a patient who probably consumed a prepackaged romaine lettuce-containing product recalled for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Although definitive epidemiological information demonstrating exposure to the specific recalled product was lacking, the patient reported consumption of a prepackaged romaine lettuce-containing product of either the recalled brand or a different brand. A multinational investigation found that patient and food isolates from the recalled product were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and were highly related by whole genome sequencing, differing by four alleles by whole genome multilocus sequence typing and by five high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms, suggesting a common source. To our knowledge, this is the first time prepackaged lettuce has been identified as a likely source for listeriosis. This investigation highlights the power of whole genome sequencing, as well as the continued need for timely and thorough epidemiological exposure data to identify sources of foodborne infections.

Listeria monocytogenes infection in a 56-year-old female cancer patient: a case report

Introduction: Listeria monocytogenes, the aetiological agent of foodborne listeriosis, can cause a severe and potentially fatal foodborne infection. Listeriosis is associated with acquired immunodeficiency or the underlying immunosuppression found in pregnant women, cancer patients and the elderly. Listeriosis emerged in developed countries in the early 1980s with the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS and the popularity of minimally processed foods; however, few cases have been reported from developing countries. Here, we present a successfully treated case of listeriosis in a patient undergoing chemotherapy. Case presentation: An elderly female patient with thyroid carcinoma metastasized to the lungs became seriously ill following the initiation of chemotherapy. The patient was admitted with symptoms of generalized convulsion and an altered level of consciousness and was treated empirically with meropenem, amikacin and linezolid injection. Cultures of blood and cerebrospinal fluid revealed Listeria monocytogenes on day 5 post-admission. The patient was treated with ampicillin (2 g intravenously every 4 h), which resolved the bacterial infection by day 9. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first diagnosed and successfully treated case of listeriosis in a cancer patient to be reported from Bangladesh. Conclusion: Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment of listeriosis. We recommend raising awareness among healthcare professionals about the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially fatal disease. Patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatments that elevate the risk of listeriosis should be monitored, and the medical histories of patients presenting with possible listeriosis should be carefully reviewed for immunosuppression. The incidence of listeriosis should be established to identify susceptible populations and to implement food safety procedures in this rapidly developing country.

Colestasis y listeriosis en el tercer trimestre de la gestación

Listeriosis is an infection produced by Listeria monocytogenes. It is infrequent and affects people at extreme ages, pregnant women, immunocompromised people and, occasionally, healthy people. Its incidence has increased in recent years and shows a certain tendency to seasonality, increasing in summer. It can appear sporadically or as outbreaks. In pregnant women the infection is most frequently produced in the third trimester and the symptoms are usually light. Nonetheless, the infection of the fetus is severe, and can produce miscarriages, fetal deaths, corioamnionitis and premature births with the newborn infected, manifested in the form of granulomatosis infantiseptica with abscesses and scattered granulomas or at a later stage , as meningitis or sepsis. Intrahepatic cholestasis is a reversible form of cholestasis, its cause is unknown, it is specific to pregnancy and is more frequent in multiparous women, in the third trimester and rarely before the 26th week. It disappears following childbirth and is the second cause of jaundice in pregnancy, after hepatitis. The diagnosis of cholestasis is basically clinical. It appears as palmoplantar pruritus but can also produce nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort localized in the right hypochondrium. Given that listeriosis and cholestasis can have a shared symptomology, the possibility of listeriosis must be borne in mind in order for early implementation of the mechanisms of diagnostic confirmation (cultivation of sterile fluids or tissues: blood, neonatal CSF, amniotic liquid or placenta) and specific treatment. We present a case of cholestasis and listeriosis in the third trimester with a good maternofetal result.

Foci of contamination of Listeria monocytogenes in different cheese processing plants

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous bacterium widely distributed in the environment that can cause a severe disease in humans when contaminated foods are ingested. Cheese has been implicated in sporadic cases and in outbreaks of listeriosis worldwide. Environmental contamination, in several occasions by persistent strains, has been considered an important source of finished product contamination. The objectives of this research were to (i) evaluate the presence of L. monocytogenes within the factory environments and cheeses of three processing plants, artisanal producer of raw ewe's milk cheeses (APC), small-scale industrial cheese producer (SSI) and industrial cheese producer (ICP) each producing a distinct style of cheese, all with history of contamination by L. monocytogenes (ii) and identify possible sources of contamination using different typing methods (arsenic and cadmium susceptibility, geno-serotyping, PFGE). The presence of markers specific for 3 epidemic clones (ECI–ECIII) of L. monocytogenes was also investigated. Samples were collected from raw milk (n=179), whey (n=3), cheese brining solution (n=7), cheese brine sludge (n=505), finished product (n=3016), and environment (n=2560) during, at least, a four-year period. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in environmental, raw milk and cheese samples, respectively, at 15.4%, 1.1% and 13.6% in APC; at 8.9%, 2.9% and 3.4% in SSI; and at 0%, 21.1% and 0.2% in ICP. Typing of isolates revealed that raw ewe's milk and the dairy plant environment are important sources of contamination, and that some strains persisted for at least four years in the environment. Although cheeses produced in the three plants investigated were never associated with any case or outbreak of listeriosis, some L. monocytogenes belonging to specific PFGE types that caused disease (including putative epidemic clone strains isolated from final products) were found in this study.

Cutaneous Listeriosis in a Veterinarian with the Evidence of Zoonotic Transmission – A Case Report

A case of Listeria monocytogenes skin infection in a man is presented. A 54-year-old male veterinary practitioner developed pustular changes on the skin of arms and hands after assisting with the delivery of a stillborn calf. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the skin lesions on the arms and from the bovine placenta. Listeria monocytogenes isolates were serotyped and genotyped with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to confirm the suspected transmission of the pathogen from animal to human. All isolates were of serotype 4b with identical pulsotype. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous listeriosis in which the evidence for zoonotic transmission of L. monocytogenes is supported by genotyping methods.