21. b. Listeria

Question 1

What patient groups are at a high risk of acquiring a listeriosis infection?

Answer 1

Immunocompromised
Pregnant
Neonates
Those who work with animals

Question 2

How does listeria appear under the microscope?

Answer 2

Gram + bacillus

Shows tumbling motility at 25C

Question 3

Give some metabolic factors of listeria

Answer 3

Faculative anaerobic

Can grow from 2-37C

Question 4

What type of haemolysis does listeria display?

Answer 4

Beta

Question 5

How is listeria acquired?

Answer 5

Animal contact
Contaminated foods
Vertical from mother to foetus

Question 6

How does listeria spread through the body?

Answer 6

Survive and multiply within macrophages

Spread from cell to cell without entering bloodstream

Question 7

What immune cell is needed to kill listeria?

Answer 7

T cells

Question 8

How does listeria present in most people?

Answer 8

Asymptomatic or mild flu or diarrhoea

Question 9

How does an occupational exposure to listeria present?

Answer 9

Flu

Gastroenteritis

Question 10

What diseases can listeria cause in immunosuppressed people?

Answer 10

Pneumonia

Meningoencephalitis

Question 11

What is perinatal listeriosis?

Answer 11

‘Influenza-like illness’ in third trimester

Question 12

What are the consequences of perinatal listeriosis?

Answer 12

Miscarriage and interuterine death
Premature labour and an infected infant
Neonatal listeriosis

Question 13

When does early neonatal listeriosis present?

Answer 13

1st 2 days of life

Question 14

Where is early neonatal listeriosis acquired?

Answer 14

Intrauterine

Question 15

What diseases are caused by early neonatal listeriosis?

Answer 15

BSI +/- pneumonia and cardiopulmonary distress

Question 16

What are possible consequences of early neonatal listeriosis?

Answer 16

Hepatosplenomegaly
Abscesses
CNS involvement
High mortality

Question 17

When does late neonatal listeriosis present?

Answer 17

> 5 days old

Question 18

Where is late neonatal listeriosis acquired?

Answer 18

Genital tract

Question 19

What diseases are caused by later neonatal listeriosis?

Answer 19

Meningitis/ meningoencephalitis

Question 20

What samples can be taken from the mother to diagnose listeriosis?

Answer 20

Blood
Urine
High vaginal swab
Placenta

Question 21

What samples can be taken from a neonate to diagnose neonatal listeriosis?

Answer 21

Blood
CSF
Meconium

Question 22

What treatment is given for listeriosis?

Answer 22

High dose ampicillin/amoxicillin and aminoglycoside

Question 23

What class of antibiotics is listeria resistant to?

Answer 23

Cephalosporins