In plain words
Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria. It lives in soil and water, and it can contaminate some foods. It can keep growing in the cold, so it can be found in some refrigerated foods over time. It is one of the foodborne germs that matter most in pregnancy. In a pregnant person, infection often causes only a mild, flu-like illness, which is why it can go unnoticed. But it can cross the placenta and infect the baby. That can lead to , , or serious illness in a newborn. Food safety guidance for pregnancy names certain foods, such as deli meats, soft cheeses, and some smoked fish, and it covers how food is stored and heated. Your provider can explain what applies to you.
The deeper version
Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, facultatively intracellular, psychrotolerant bacterium. It crosses the placenta and can infect the fetal compartment. Maternal is often a nonspecific febrile illness, which contributes to underdiagnosis. Fetal and neonatal infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, or neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Surveillance by the CDC FoodNet system shows that pregnancy is a recognized route to severe disease. Risk is concentrated in ready-to-eat foods, including deli meats, unpasteurized dairy, some soft cheeses, and smoked fish, and refrigerated storage can allow growth. The controversy concerns the value of testing every febrile pregnant person, and how to counsel about risk without excessive restriction of foods.
Where it comes up
- Food safety: listeria, mercury, raw foodsPregnancy: Eating
- Stocking the freezer before birthNourishment and Traditions
- What to eat in pregnancy: the short versionPregnancy: Eating
What mothers here say about Listeria monocytogenes
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet): Listeria surveillance