Listeriosis in pregnancy

route of infection of listeriosis

In Germany, around 100 to 200 cases of listeriosis are recorded every year. However, since this disease does not have any clearly distinguishable symptoms, doctors estimate the number of unreported cases to be significantly higher. Most infections result from ingestion of foods that carry Listeria bacteria. However, the pathogens are also transmitted through smear infections from infected people, animals and objects.

Symptoms and course of listeriosis

Healthy people often do not notice that they are infected with Listeria because the body does not show any symptoms of the disease due to the intact immune system. If the body shows symptoms, these are similar to those of a flu infection. Fever, chills, fatigue and headaches can indicate an infection. In severe cases, the person affected can also suffer from diarrhea.

Most people have antibodies against the listeria germs thanks to previous infections. In healthy people, the immune system is also so strong that it immediately eliminates all pathogens. This also applies if there is no immunity yet. However, the immune defenses of weakened, old and sick people can no longer provide this service. If the infection progresses severely, they can develop blood poisoning, meningitis or encephalitis. Unfortunately, in some cases these complicated cases end fatally.

Dangers of listeriosis in pregnancy

If the number of germs is high and the infected pregnant woman does not have an intact immune system, individual germs can overcome the stomach acid and get into the intestine, where they can overcome the mucous membrane barrier and cause local inflammation. Even pregnant women with a good immune system can become infected with Listeria.

Unfortunately, the risk of a serious course is many times higher for pregnant women. In most cases, however, the infection only briefly shows flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills and headaches. However, despite minor symptoms, the pathogens can penetrate the child via the placenta. Since the child does not yet have an adequate immune system, the infection has devastating effects on the child. Miscarriage can occur in the early weeks of pregnancy. Otherwise there is a risk of serious damage to the organs (brain, lungs, liver, skin). The child may be stillborn if the lesions are too extensive, or may show severe symptoms of the lesion at birth. Unfortunately, these children’s chances of survival are not very good.

Even at birth or afterwards, the child can still become infected with listeria via a smear infection. However, such a late illness usually has no serious consequences.

If listeriosis is detected in mother and child, an attempt can be made to contain this infection with antibiotics. The biggest problem is the almost symptom-free course of the infection. This is because the disease is usually not recognized until late. The child has often already suffered considerable damage.

Prevention of listeriosis in pregnancy

• Pregnant women should avoid some foods altogether .
• Pregnant women should not eat food that has been stored for more than 24 hours after cooking. It is also not advisable to allow frozen food to thaw slowly over hours, as this allows the bacteria to multiply. Instead, it is better to defrost them in the microwave oven. It is also important to heat the food carefully, since the germs can remain in the cold spots of the food.
• It is also important to disinfect the refrigerator regularly and to store the food separately from each other, since listeria germs can still spread at +4 degrees.
• When preparing food, use separate cutting boards for the different foods, wash the knife thoroughly after each use, and wash your hands with soap and warm water after preparing raw meat or salad.
• Washing hands after going to the toilet, after handling money and hair is also strongly recommended to minimize the risk of infection.