With the recent listeria cases and food recalls in the news in Canada, it is important to understand the disease’s serious health effects in pregnancy, including fetal death. An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) highlights important things to know about listeriosis, a foodborne bacterial illness that is 20 times more common in pregnancy.
1. When listeriosis spreads beyond the gastrointestinal system in pregnant people, it can be deadly for fetuses.
– The rate of fetal loss or neonatal death in pregnant people with invasive listeriosis is 29 per cent .
– Symptoms may include gastrointestinal symptoms, aches, fever, severe respiratory distress, and sepsis, although infection with Listeria monocytogene can also be asymptomatic.
2. Pregnant people should avoid foods at high risk of listeria
contamination.
– These include unpasteurized dairy products, luncheon meats, meat spreads, and prepared salads.
3. Investigation of asymptomatic people who may have consumed contaminated products is not
necessary.
– Symptoms may appear 2-3 months after ingestion as the incubation period for listeriosis is up to 70 days.
4. Patients with mild gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms and possible exposure to L. monocytogenes but no fever can be managed with blood tests and oral amoxicillin.
5. In patients with fever and possible exposure to L. monocytogenes, immediate blood cultures should be taken and high-dose ampicillin started along with electronic fetal heart rate monitoring.
“Most importantly, pregnant people should be aware whether they have been recently exposed to contaminated foods,” recommends Dr. Jeffrey Wong, reproductive infectious diseases physician at BC Women’s Hospital and coauthor of the article. “While there are foods traditionally linked with listeria, Health Canada product recalls alert people to foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Many recently recalled foods do not fall within high-risk foods. If a pregnant person is exposed, they should monitor for symptoms and seek medical advice if they become symptomatic.”
“Listeriosis in pregnancy” was published August 26, 2024.
