Why is listeria dangerous in pregnancy

The good news is that even though the bacteria are everywhere, infections occur very rarely. But, because the symptoms are similar to those of influenza, the disease is often confused or not even noticed.

During pregnancy, an infection with listeriosis is particularly dangerous because it can pass to the unborn child during birth or even already in the womb. If listeriosis is detected early enough, it is easily treatable with antibiotics and also provides good protection for the baby in the womb. However, if the listeria infection remains undetected and is not treated accordingly, the consequences can be fatal.

In the worst case, the consequences can be fatal:. In some cases, infected babies may not see the infection immediately, sometimes weeks may pass before symptoms appear. Unfortunately, infection with Listeria during pregnancy often occurs without any signs of disease. If symptoms do occur, they are usually diffuse and cannot be clearly attributed, such as flu-like symptoms, cystitis or premature labor.

If you have eaten contaminated food and do not have symptoms, some experts feel no special testing or treatment is needed. Be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider. How can I find out if my baby has been infected with Listeria during my pregnancy? An ultrasound to look at the baby can be used to check for an enlarged heart, thickened bowel, and increased thickness of the stomach walls, which may occur in some babies infected with Listeria.

A blood test can also be performed on the baby after birth to detect whether the baby has been infected with Listeria. Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy. There is an increased chance of miscarriage when infection occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. Infections after the first trimester are associated with a lower chance of pregnancy loss.

This is called the background risk. Listeriosis infection has not been linked to an increased chance of birth defects. Pregnancies affected by or exposed to Listeria can have an increased chance of infection in the uterus, preterm delivery delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy and in the most severe infection, the possibility of stillbirth. Listeriosis during pregnancy can also increase the chance for serious health problems for the newborn. Newborn babies infected with Listeria can develop either early onset or late onset listeriosis.

Early onset listeriosis develops days after birth, and the baby often has signs of a serious bacterial infection. Late onset listeriosis occurs weeks after birth, and usually includes symptoms of meningitis a condition where there are areas of swelling around the brain and spinal cord in the baby. Listeriosis is rare in non-pregnant healthy adults, but the infection is up to 20 times more common in pregnant women, according to a review in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Most pregnant women have no symptoms or problems from the infection. However, the fetus is highly susceptible to this type of bacterium.

The infection can spread into and across the placenta. Infection with Listeria — known as listeriosis — is severe and often fatal for the baby.

Symptoms may start anywhere from two days to two months after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms in pregnant women may be similar to the symptoms of the flu or cold. They may include:. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider if you are pregnant and experience any of these symptoms. However, she can still pass the infection on to her unborn baby without knowing it. Listeriosis is an infection caused by eating foods contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

The bacteria are commonly found in water, soil, and animals. Vegetables can be contaminated from the soil. Listeria is killed by cooking and pasteurization the process of heating a liquid to a high temperature to kill germs. This bacterium is unusual because it grows well at the same temperature as your refrigerator. People typically catch listeriosis by eating the following contaminated foods:. Women with certain conditions are at a slightly higher risk of infection. These include the following conditions:.

Many cases of listeriosis occur in healthy pregnant women. Pregnant Hispanic women are also at a higher risk — roughly 24 times more likely than the general population to be infected. A doctor will suspect listeriosis if you are pregnant and have a fever or flu-like symptoms.

Listeria is difficult to diagnose. Your doctor will try to confirm a diagnosis by performing a blood culture to test for presence of the bacteria. The cultures may take up to two days for growth. Others may develop a stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, or confusion. If a woman gets Listeria in pregnancy, she may not realise she has it, but it can still cause harm to the developing foetus. It is generally possible to eliminate Listeria from food by cooking or pasteurising it.

Here is a list of some foods that are best avoided:. Moran LJ, et al