Health and Wellness Food Borne Illness

Listeriosis

Roberta M. MoyerIsabella

SCI163

June 24, 2015

Stephanie Yoakum

Listeriosis

Food storage, preparation, and cleanliness should be main focus in preventing food borne illnesses because food borne illnesses are common, costly, and preventable.  Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, and most human infections follow consumption of contaminated food.  The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems.

Food borne illnesses are common, costly, and preventable.  Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with this bacteria.  This bacteria can live for years in food-processing factories and can multiply in the refrigerator.  Listeria is killed by cooking and pasteurization.  However, there is still a risk in some ready-to-eat meats, at the deli counter, and in some Mexican-style cheeses.   This bacteria causes fever and muscle aches as well as possible diarrhea.  Listeriosis is an aggressive infection that spreads past the gastrointestinal system (Schlech, et al., 1983).  All people are exposed to this bacteria regularly. The diagnosis is confirmed by a blood sample and normally take 1-2 days for growth.  Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. There have been cases of death from this bacteria even with prompt treatment.  Scallen, et al. (2011) each year in the United States more than 37 million illnesses from pathogens.  Of those nearly 5.5 million are foodborne with 3.6 million of them being caused by bacteria.

Most human infections follow consumption of contaminated food.  Many different disease-causing microbes, or pathogens, as well as poisonous chemicals or harmful substances can contaminate foods.  In 2012, 831 foodborne outbreaks were reported to CDC.  In 2012, there were 4 confirmed outbreaks and 1 suspected outbreak of listeriosis in the United States. The largest listeriosis outbreak in U.S. history occurred in 2011, when 147 illnesses, 33 deaths, and 1 miscarriage occurred among residents of 28 states; the outbreak was associated with consumption of cantaloupe from a single farm. The most recent outbreak was at Blue Bell Creameries.  This was a complex multistate outbreak investigation of listeriosis cases occurring over several years.  The testing took place mostly in South Carolina and Texas where those who tested positive had all had milkshakes made with the “Scoops” Blue Bell ice cream product while they were in the hospital. Illness onset dates for the five people ranged from January 2014 through January 2015. Three of these people died as a result of their Listeria infection.  On April 20, 2015, Blue Bell Creameries voluntarily recalled all products currently on the market made at all of its facilities.   The recall was announced after ice cream they tested contained Listeria.