Human listeriosis comeback ode

Human listeriosis is a potentially fatal foodborne
infection caused by Listeria monocitogenes. The first
confirmed case was in 1929, while the first described
large outbreaks occurred in the 1980s. Listeria is small,
intracellular, non-capsulated, non-sporulating, betahemolytic, aerobic, and facultative anaerobic grampositive, motile bacilli. L. monocitogenes is ubiquitous
and part of the fecal flora in humans, mammals, birds,
and crustaceans. The chances of food contamination
during any food production process are numerous.
This research aimed to raise awareness about invasive
infections caused by L. monocitogenes, persistently
present in foods and the environment despite up-todate food safety measures.
Since L. monocytogenes multiply intracellularly,
infection control requires cell-mediated immunity;
therefore immunocompromised patients, neonates,
older people, and pregnant women are vulnerable
to invasive listeriosis. Infection occurs sporadically
or in outbreaks. Primary bacteremia is unusual, with
high fever without specific symptoms and signs, and
it may become prolonged and asymptomatic. Focal
infections such as pneumonia, pleuropneumonia,
endocarditis, peritonitis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis,
meningitis, ophthalmitis, and cholecystitis infected
prosthetic joints, localized internal abscesses, and
granulomatous lesions in the liver and other organs
have also been described. Febrile gastroenteritis
may occur after ingestion of contaminated food.
Listerial bacteremia during pregnancy can cause
intrauterine infection, chorioamnionitis, premature
labor, fetal death, or neonatal infections. In the past
few years, an increasing rate of listeriosis has been
reported in several European countries. The reported
fatality rate has been around 30 percent in both risk
and non-risk groups. The increased incidence of the
disease could be associated with a higher presence
of coexistent diseases, with treatments related to
immunosuppression, and the increased survival of
the population with serious health problems. The
diagnosis is a challenge due to the incubation period
and the different clinical manifestations. For proper
diagnosis, L. monocytogenes should be isolated from
blood, cerebrospinal fluid, placenta, meconium, fetal
gastrointestinal contents, and other normally sterile
sites. Antibiotic treatment is fundamental as early as
possible because of the severity of the disease and the
high associated mortality. Crucial recognition of the
most efficient strategies based on risk assessment from
the food production to consumption stage is required
to prevent the comeback of human listeriosis.
The current reality is that listeriosis has a high mortality
despite adequate and early treatment. In Europe,
invasive listeriosis has been reported to be an infection
of serious concern to public health considering its
clinical severity (hospitalization rate > 90%) and
high fatality rate (20% to 30%). The imperative is
to reduce the incidence of human listeriosis. Focal
and continuous education and a multidisciplinary
approach are the key strategies to battle the human
listeriosis comeback ode.