eisteroisiin

Eisteroisiin is a bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It is primarily foodborne and can range from mild, self-limited illness to severe invasive disease. The most serious outcomes occur in pregnant people, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

The bacterium is Gram-positive and facultatively intracellular, capable of multiplying at refrigeration temperatures. Transmission occurs chiefly through contaminated food, including unpasteurized dairy products, soft cheeses, deli meats and smoked seafood, raw sprouts, and via cross-contamination in kitchens.

Clinical features vary. In healthy adults, infection commonly causes fever and flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis. Invasive listeriosis can cause meningitis or sepsis and may involve the brain, spinal cord, or placenta. Pregnant people may experience mild symptoms but can transmit infection to the fetus, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal sepsis and meningitis.

Incubation period ranges from a few days to several weeks, sometimes up to 70 days. Diagnosis relies on isolation of L. monocytogenes from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, or placental tissue, supported by PCR or serology.

Treatment typically involves antibiotics such as ampicillin, often combined with gentamicin. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is an alternative for those with penicillin allergy. Early recognition improves outcomes.

Prevention focuses on food safety: pasteurization, cooking high-risk foods thoroughly, avoiding unpasteurized dairy and soft cheeses during pregnancy, maintaining clean kitchen practices, and proper refrigeration. Public health measures track outbreaks linked to contaminated foods.