LISTERIA

Prevention of A Deadly Public

Health Problem

Photo Source: http://koolielu.edu.ee/kajarahu/veeb/mikroobsed_toiduhaigused/images/Listeria%20monocytogenes.jpg

Tayo Wright-HentzEnvironmental HealthJanuary 17, 2010

Intended Audience & Stakeholders

Audience General- Any one

who consumes food.

Stakeholders Restaurant

Owners/ Managers

Public Health Officials

Dietary Managers Farmers Meat processors Food HandlersPhoto Source: http://koolielu.edu.ee/kajarahu/veeb/mikroobsed_toiduhaigused/images/Listeria%20monocytogenes.jpg

Listeria (listeriosis) Objectives

The Origin of Listeria (Listeriosis). The definition of Listeria (Listeriosis). The incidence of Listeria (Listeriosis) and

at risk people. The signs/symptoms that indicate

Listeriosis. The food that have the potential to carry

Listeria. How to prevent, detect and cure

Listeriosis. Know the agencies that test for Listeria.

History of Listeria?

Listeria and listeriosis were named in honor of Dr. Joseph Lister (1827‐1912)the English surgeon who introduced the principals of antisepsis to standard surgical procedures and, thus, greatly reduced postoperative deaths. His principals of antiseptic surgery are practiced worldwide to this day. Before Lister, a patient was as likely to die from post‐op infection as from whatever the surgery was meant to remedy in the first place.

Source: Wiedmann, Martin, Food borne illness information center, www.unisci.com. Photo Source: http://www.pbchd.com/pdfs/prevention_pointers/listeriosis.pdf

What is Listeria?

LISTERIA IS A BACTERIAL GENUS CONTAINING 6 SPECIES; TWO BEING PATHOGENIC AND FOUR NON PATHOGENIC NAMED:

Non Pathogenic Listeria grayi- non pathogenic

bacterium found in the feces of chinchillas.

Listeria Innocua – non pathogenic bacterium widely found in the enviroment (like in soil) and other food sources.

Listeria Seeligeri- a non-pathogenic bacterium, only resembles other Listeria bacteria and has different qualities than others.

Listeria Welshimeri- non pathogenic bacterium found in decaying plants, water, and dust.

Pathogenic Listeria Ivanovii- A pathogenic

bacterium of ruminants this species can infect mice, rarely the cause of human disease.

Listeria Monocytogenes- pathogenic bacterium found everywhere soil, stream water, sewage, plants and food. This species is responsible for Listeriosis, a rare but lethal food borne infection.

Sources : Centers for Disease Control , www.cdc.gov Photo Source: http://www.oxoid.com/bluePress/UK/EN/images/PR026906.jpghttp://koolielu.edu.ee/kajarahu/veeb/mikroobsed_toiduhaigused/images/Listeria%20monocytogenes.jpg

What is Listeriosis?

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria Monocytogenes such as vegetables, meats, and unpasteurized dairy products.

Listeriosis has recently been recognized as an important public health problem in the U.S.

Source: www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis. Photo: http://images.quickblogcast.com/84869-74217/eggo.jpg, http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/wp-content/uploads/milk-cheese-eggs-220.jpg

Who does Listeriosis affect?

This disease primarily affects: The elderly Pregnant Women- One third of cases

happen in pregnancy Newborns- Suffer serious effects of

infection in pregnancy Persons with weakened immune

systems- People with AIDS, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and who take glucocorticosteriod medications.

People without these risk factors can be rarely affected.

Source: www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis. Photo source: http://brucefong.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/hispanic-pregnant-woman.jpg, http://brucefong.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/hispanic-pregnant-woman.jpg, http://www.voagno.org/Portals/20/elderly%20ladies.jpg

What are some symptoms of Listeriosis?

Some symptoms of Listeriosis include: Fever Muscle Aches Gastrointestinal Problems: Nausea & Diarrhea

If Listeriosis spreads to the nervous system, it can cause:

Headache Confusion Loss of Balance

If left untreated, Listeriosis can cause: Meningitis- Meningitis is an inflammation of

the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Sepsis- Sepsis is a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria.

Death

Source: www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis. Photo Source: http://www.topnews.in/health/files/immune-system.jpg

Why should you be concerned about Listeriosis?

In the U.S., an estimated 2500 persons become seriously ill with Listeriosis; of these 500 die!

Listeriosis causes death in 20% of people who contract it.

Listeriosis has a mortality rate of 25% in comparison with Salmonella mortality rate of 1%.

Source: www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis. Photo Source: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/m553a1f29.gif

How does Listeria get into the food we eat?

LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IS FOUND IN SOIL AND WATER.

Fruits and Vegetables Can become

contaminated by the soil.

Can become contaminated by the manure used to fertilize the soil.

Animals Can carry the

bacterium without appearing ill.

Can contaminate foods of animal origin such as meats and dairy products.

Source: M.S. Chae & H. Schraft , 2000, Comparative evaluation of adhesion and biofilm formation of different Listeria monocytogenes strains. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 62:103-111. www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis.

What foods can Listeria be found in ?

THE BACTERIUM IS FOUND IN A VARIETY OF RAW FOODS :

THE BACTERIUM HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND IN PROCESSED FOODS:

Uncooked/ Undercooked Meats

Uncooked Vegetables Unpasteurized milk Products made from

unpasteurized milk.

Soft cheeses Cold cut meats Ready to eat hot

dogsSource: www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis. Photo Source: http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/food-kitchen/food/dairy-products/soft-cheeses.jpg

How can Listeriosis be prevented?

Effectively sanitize all food contact surfaces. Keep refrigerated foods under four degrees Celsius. Thoroughly cook all meats Wash all raw fruits & vegetables Keep meats separate from vegetables and from

cooked ready to eat foods Avoid unpasteurized dairy foods Wash knives, hand, and cutting boards after

handling uncooked foods Consume perishable and ready to eat foods as

soon as possible.

For Healthy People:

Source: Department of Health and Human Services, Listeria Facts; Surface cleaning

How can Listeriosis be prevented?

Do not eat hot dogs, lunch meats, and or deli meats unless they are steaming hot.

Avoid getting any juices from packaged meat containers on other foods, utensils, surfaces, and hands.

Do not eat refrigerated meat spreads. Do not eat smoked seafood. Do not eat soft cheeses.

For People at Risk ( In Addition to previous recommendations):

Source: Department of Health and Human Services , www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis.

Are there any chemicals that kill Listeriosis ?

Intralytix- A pesticide like spray that kills all six species of Listeria; but, it is still in testing phases.

The EBI Food Safety has created a similar product called LISTEX P100.

Both of these treatments are similar in that they use bacteriophages to kill Listeria.

Source: Food and Drug Administration, The Bad Bug Handbook 2005 www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listerosis.

Are there any tests for detection of Listeriosis?

Most healthy people do not contract Listeriosis even after eating contaminated foods.

Even if in a high risk group, there is no risk unless you develop a high fever or serious illness after consuming contaminated foods. If these symptoms develop, please contact your physician.

A blood or spinal fluid test are the only ways to test for Listeriosis.

Source: FDA, The Bad Bug Book, 2005

How is Listeriosis treated or cured?

Prevention is first defense in protection against Listeriosis; however, there Antibiotics that

fight the Bacteria like: Ampicillin Vancomycin Ciprofloxacin Linezoild Azithromycin

Source: Center for Disease Control Photo source : http://www.azithrocine.com/images/photo/drugs.jpg

What is Government agencies are helping in the fight against Listeriosis?

The Food and Drug Administration The CDC The U.S. Department of Agriculture The Coordinating Center for Infectious

Diseases (CCID)- a division of the CDC.

Photo Source: FDA.gov, CDC.gov, and USDA.gov

Listeria and Listeriosis Review

What is Listeria (listeriosis) ? Who is most at risk for Listeriosis? What the symptoms of Listeriosis are? How it can be prevented? How it can be detected? How it can be treated? Can listeriosis be cured? What the government is doing to aid in

the fight against this deadly food borne illness?

Resources on Listeria and Listeriosis

For more reading: Disease Listing: Listeriosis General Information. Centers for Disease Control "More About Listeria". University of Florida Medical School.

http://www.med.ufl.edu/biochem/DLPURICH/morelist.html. Retrieved 2007-03-07.  "Today's Online Textbook of Bacteriology". Listeria monocytogenes and Listeriosis. Kenneth Todar University of

Wisconsin-Madison Department of Biology. 2003. http://textbookofbacteriology.net/Listeria.html. Retrieved 2007-03-07. 

"Statistics about Salmonella food poisoning". WrongDiagnosis.com. 27 February 2007. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/s/salmonella_food_poisoning/stats.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-07. 

Tinley, L.G. et al. (1989). "Actin Filaments and the Growth, Movement, and Spread of the Intracellular Bacterial Parasite, Listeria monocytogenes". The Journal of Cell Biology 109 (4 Pt 1): 1597–1608. doi:10.1083/jcb.109.4.1597. PMID 2507553. PMC 2115783. http://www.jcb.org/cgi/reprint/109/4/1597. 

"Listeria". MicrobeWiki.Kenyon.edu. 16 August 2006. doi:.. http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php?title=Listeria&oldid=5472. Retrieved 2007-03-07. 

Laine RO, Phaneuf KL, Cunningham CC, Kwiatkowski D, Azuma T, Southwick FS (1 August 1998). "Gelsolin, a protein that caps the barbed ends and severs actin filaments, enhances the actin-based motility of Listeria monocytogenes in host cells". Infect. Immun. 66 (8): 3775–82. PMID 9673261. PMC 108414. http://iai.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=9673261. 

Galbraith CG, Yamada KM, Galbraith JA (February 2007). "Polymerizing actin fibers position integrins primed to probe for adhesion sites". Science 315 (5814): 992–5. doi:10.1126/science.1137904. PMID 17303755. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=17303755. 

Center for Science in the Public Interest - Nutrition Action Healthletter - Food Safety Guide - Meet the Bugs "Maple Leaf Foods assessing Listeria-killing chemical". ctv.ca (ctvglobemedia). 2008-10-12.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081012/maple_leaf_foods_081012/20081012?hub=Health. Retrieved 2008-10-15. 

Greenemeier L (May 21, 2008). "Recruiting a Dangerous Foe to Fight Cancer and HIV"]. Scientific American. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=recruiting-a-dangerous-foe&sc=rss. 

Associated Press - Viruses Approved for Treating Food Food Quality News - Phage product found effective against Listeria

Are there any Questions?

ReferencesCenters for Disease Control. (2009). Listeriosis: Disease Listing. Retrieved on January 10,2010 from

www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfmbd/disease-listing/listeriosis Chae, M.S., Schraft, H. (2000). Comparative evaluation of adhesion and biofilm formation of different Listeria

monocytogenes strains. International Journal of Food Microbiology. Volume 62: 103-111Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). (2010). Listeria and Listeriosis. Retrieved on December

31, 2009 from www.dhhs.gov/listeriosis Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2009). Food borne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins

Handbook: The Bad Bug Fact Book. Retrieved on January 10, 2010 from www.fda.gov/listeria/fact sheet Wiedmann, Martin. (2001). Investigating The Deadliest of All Food borne Bacteria. Food Borne Illness

Education Center. Retrieved on December 21, 2009 from www.unisci.com/stories/20011/0212012.htmUnited States Department of Agriculture (2010). Food Protection. Listeria and Salmonella. Retrieved on

January 19, 2010 from www.usda.gov/listeriaandsalmonella/foodbouneillinesses Photo Sources: http://koolielu.edu.ee/kajarahu/veeb/mikroobsed_toiduhaigused/images/Listeria%20monocytogenes.jpg http://www.pbchd.com/pdfs/prevention_pointers/listeriosis.pdf http://www.oxoid.com/bluePress/UK/EN/images/PR026906.jpg http://koolielu.edu.ee/kajarahu/veeb/mikroobsed_toiduhaigused/images/Listeria%20monocytogenes.jpg http://images.quickblogcast.com/84869-74217/eggo.jpg, http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/wp-content/uploads/milk-cheese-eggs-220.jpg http://brucefong.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/hispanic-pregnant-woman.jpg, http://brucefong.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/hispanic-pregnant-woman.jpg, http://www.voagno.org/Portals/20/elderly%20ladies.jpg http://www.topnews.in/health/files/immune-system.jpg http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/m553a1f29.gif http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/food-kitchen/food/dairy-products/soft-cheeses.jpg http://www.azithrocine.com/images/photo/drugs.jpg www.FDA.gov , www.CDC.gov , and www.USDA.gov