Listeria monocytogenes--which of your patients is not at risk?

Listeria monocytogenes is an environmental bacterium that is capable of causing infection (known as listeriosis) in vulnerable people who generally acquire the organism following the ingestion of contaminated foods. Pregnant women are a particular risk group, as listeriosis in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, neonatal septicaemia and meningitis. The immunocompromised, and people over the age of 65 to 70 are also at increased risk of listeriosis. Listeriosis can present in a number of ways and may lead to significant morbidity. The mortality rate is between 11% and 60% depending on the age of the patient and the clinical presentation of the infection. There has been wide coverage in both medical and public media of the risk of listeriosis in pregnancy, but little has been published in general nursing journals. The objective of this article is to raise nurses' awareness of listeriosis enabling them to offer optimum advice to vulnerable patients.