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Listeriosis
📚 Related Subjects: | Listeriosis | Moraxella catarrhalis | Leptospira interrogans | Lactobacillus acidophilus | Helicobacter pylori | Haemophilus parainfluenzae | Haemophilus influenzae
🦠 About
- Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular, motile, Gram-positive bacillus.
- Primarily affects neonates 👶 and the immunocompromised 🧍♂️.
- Notable for its ability to grow at low temperatures ❄️ (4–8°C).
- Infection can be associated with granuloma formation 🧩.
🌍 Source
- Spread via unpasteurised dairy 🧀🥛 (e.g., soft cheeses).
- Also found in undercooked chicken 🍗, pâtés, hot dogs 🌭, delicatessen meats, and fish 🐟.
- Widely present in soil and water 🌱💧.
⚠️ Pathogenicity: Invasive Disease in the Immunocompromised
- At risk: pregnant 🤰, HIV patients 🧬, alcohol-dependent 🍷, elderly 👵, neonates 👶, and those with diabetes 🍬.
- Patients on immunosuppressants 💊 (e.g., infliximab, renal transplant) are particularly vulnerable.
🤒 Clinical Features
- Gastroenteritis: Mild diarrhoea/vomiting in healthy hosts; some become asymptomatic carriers.
- Bacteraemia: Fever, malaise, myalgia.
- Pregnancy: Can cross the placenta → miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal sepsis 🚨.
- Neonates: Septicaemia or meningitis 👶🧠.
- Adults: Meningoencephalitis with ataxia; CSF glucose often normal.
🧪 Investigations
- Blood 🩸 or CSF 💉 cultures → organism isolation.
- CSF glucose: usually normal (key clue vs other bacterial meningitis).
- Blood agar → beta-haemolysis 🧫.
- Catalase-positive ✅; hydrolyses aesculin.
- Characteristic tumbling motility 🤹 in broth at room temperature.
💊 Management
- First-line: Ampicillin + Gentamicin (synergistic therapy) 💉.
- Note: Intrinsically resistant to cephalosporins 🚫.
🚫 Avoidance
- Pregnant and immunocompromised patients should avoid:
- Unpasteurised dairy 🧀
- Undercooked meat 🍖
- Pâtés and deli meats 🥩
- Unwashed raw veg 🥗
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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