Advice regarding the risk of contracting Listeria-Listeriosis
15 October 2024
Healthy adults are likely to experience only mild infection, causing flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis. However, listeriosis is dangerous to pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
Listeria is typically spread by contaminated foods. Listeria is an unusual bacterium because it can grow at low temperatures, including refrigeration temperatures of below 5°C. It is, however, killed by cooking food thoroughly and by pasteurisation.
Any patients at risk, especially the severely immunocompromised, the elderly and the pregnant should be reminded about the risk of listeriosis associated with consumption of cold smoked and cured fish.
