﻿ Listeria Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What is the prognosis (outcome) for Listeria infections? - MedicineNet

Listeria (cont.)

Medical Author:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:

What is the prognosis (outcome) for Listeria infections?

Since most infections go unnoticed or only produce minor symptoms, the prognosis is excellent. However, the prognosis for people with altered or impaired immune systems range from good (with early appropriate therapy) to poor, depending on how debilitated the patient is when first infected.

The pregnant female usually has a good prognosis. However, her fetus or newborn has a good to guarded prognosis, again depending how quickly the mother or newborn is effectively treated.

If a person has eaten recalled food potentially contaminated with Listeria, what should he or she do?

The CDC recommends the following to all people. If the person has no symptoms, they recommend no tests or treatment be done. However, if the person is in a high-risk group (see risk factor section above), they recommend contacting the person's physician only if the person develops fever or signs of serious illness within two months of eating the food. The CDC makes these conservative suggestions based on the fact that the chance of developing Listeria infection, even after ingestion of a contaminated product, is very small.

However, people in the high-risk groups should have no delays in contacting their doctor if they suspect symptoms of listeriosis are developing.

What is the government doing about listeriosis?

The following is modified from the CDC web site in response to the above question.

Government agencies and the food industry have taken steps to reduce contamination of food by the Listeria bacterium. The Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture monitor food regularly. When a processed food is found to be contaminated, food monitoring and plant inspection are intensified, and if necessary, the implicated food is recalled.

The Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID) is studying listeriosis in several states to help measure the impact of prevention activities and recognize trends in disease occurrence. CCID also assists local health departments in investigating outbreaks. Early detection and reporting of outbreaks of listeriosis to local and state health departments can help identify sources of infection and prevent more cases of the disease.

In addition, the FDA publishes its list of product recalls on the Internet, and the site is frequently updated. The following web site will allow individuals to check on specific products and describe how to identify them: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/.


Guillet, C., O. Join-Lambert, A. Le Monnier, et al. "Human Listeriosis Caused by Listeria ivanovii." Emerg Infect Dis 16.1 Jan. 2010. <http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/1/136.htm>.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Listeria (Listeriosis)." Mar. 16, 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/>.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Listeria (Listeriosis): Diagnosis." Jan. 2, 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/diagnosis.html>.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Blue Bell Creameries Products." Apr. 8, 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/ice-cream-03-15/index.html>.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Associated with Jensen Farms Cantaloupe --- United States, August--September 2011." MMWR 60.39 Oct. 7, 2011: 1357-1358. <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6039a5.htm?s_cid=mm6039a5_w>.

United States. Food and Drug Administration. "Listeria." <http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/listeria/>.

United States. Food and Drug Administration. "Sabra Dipping Company Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Select SKUs of Its Classic Hummus." Apr. 10, 2015. <http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm441863.htm>.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 4/10/2015

Bacterial Infections 101 Pictures Slideshow: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments
