A Point-Source Foodborne Listeriosis Outbreak: Documented Incubation Period And Possible Mild Illness

Listeria bacteremia occurred in 2 pregnant women whose only common exposure was attendance at a party. The incubation period, the possibility of mild disease due to Listeria infection, and foods associated with risk of disease were evaluated. Ten (28%) of 36 party attenders met a case definition, wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1994-09, Vol.170 (3), p.693-696
Main Authors: Riedo, Francis X., Pinner, Robert W., Tosca, Maria de Lourdes, Cartter, Matthew L., Graves, Lewis M., Reeves, Michael W., Weaver, Robert E., Plikaytis, Brian D., Broome, Claire
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Blood
Camembert cheese
Concise Communications
Connecticut - epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Diseases
Documentation
Enzymes
Epidemiology
Feces - microbiology
Female
Food
Food consumption
Food Microbiology
Foodborne illnesses
Humans
Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes
Listeria monocytogenes - classification
Listeria monocytogenes - isolation & purification
Listeriosis - epidemiology
Listeriosis - physiopathology
Listeriosis - transmission
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - physiopathology
Serotyping
Time Factors
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Summary:Listeria bacteremia occurred in 2 pregnant women whose only common exposure was attendance at a party. The incubation period, the possibility of mild disease due to Listeria infection, and foods associated with risk of disease were evaluated. Ten (28%) of 36 party attenders met a case definition, which included isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from blood or stool or two of the following: fever, musculoskeletal symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. One of 25 stool cultures was positive. The 2 blood isolates and 1 stool isolate were serotype 4b and identical by enzyme typing. The incubation periods for illness in the 2 pregnant women were 19 and 23 days. Consumption of large amounts of shrimp, nonalcoholic beverages, Camembert cheese, and cauliflower was significantly associated with illness. Eating shrimp remained a significant risk factor for illness after controlling for consumption of other foods. This study suggests a milder illness may exist in healthy persons who consume foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes and demonstrates a prolonged incubation period for disease.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/170.3.693