LISTERIA IN PREGNANCY: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS FOR THE FETUS?

Listeria in pregnancy poses a threat to future mothers, but with a few small precautions and attention to the types of foods included in the diet for the 9 months before giving birth, you can rest assured and live the moment in all serenity. Let's try to better understand what it is and how to do to avoid contracting the infection, but first a video with the things not to do in pregnancy.

Listeria in pregnancy: what is it?

Listeria is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is anything but rare: it is found in water, soil, fruit and vegetables, but also in milk (and therefore in cheeses), raw meat and seafood. It is also easy to detect its presence on kitchen utensils, cabinets and refrigerators.
In healthy people, the infection often goes unnoticed, but in pregnant women, the elderly, the sick and infants it can have serious consequences. Why? In the case of pregnancy, bacteria can cross the placental barrier and thus reach the fetus the continuation of pregnancy is very dangerous.

What are the symptoms of listeria in pregnancy?

When listeria contamination occurs in pregnancy it manifests itself with symptoms of nasopharyngitis accompanied by fever. In addition, headaches, neck stiffness, severe and unusual fatigue can also be the first symptoms. The most severe evolution of the disease foresees meningitis or encephalitis in people who are predisposed to it.
If in doubt or if you have a fever above 38 ° C, you should consult your doctor or gynecologist who will establish the diagnosis by isolating the bacteria in the blood (by blood culture) or sometimes in the urine.
If the bacterium is detected in your body, you will be given specific antibiotic treatment (a combination of ampicillin and gentamicin) for a fortnight. If infection is proven, treatment will be continued until the end of pregnancy. Success of treatment depends on early management of the infection.

Listeria in pregnancy: what are the risks?

Behind the benign aspect of listeria in pregnancy, there can be serious consequences for the baby in some cases even very serious: listeria can lead to stillbirth (miscarriage) or premature birth. If the pregnancy is carried to term , the baby may develop sepsis or meningitis within days of birth. There may also be an "infection in the infant with respiratory distress associated with skin or neurological signs. In all these cases the child will have to be particularly monitored.

Foods to avoid to avoid contracting listeria in pregnancy

Raw milk cheeses, blue cheeses (Bleu, Roquefort ...), cheeses with a floral rind (Camembert, Brie ...). Avoid eating the cheese rind.
Salad and raw vegetables in a bag.
Parsley and herbs are vectors of the disease when eaten raw.
Sprouted seeds.
Raw meats and salami. Avoid sliced charcuterie and once you open the package, eat the products quickly.
Raw fish such as sushi, sashimi, roll.
Crustaceans, and shellfish products (smoked fish, surimi).
Raw shellfish (oysters).

Listeria in pregnancy: other precautions to take

Always reheat cooked dishes and food leftovers because the germ is destroyed at 100 ° C.
Wash your hands and clean kitchen utensils after handling raw foods.
Clean the refrigerator twice a month and disinfect it with bleached water and a new sponge. The temperature inside should remain around 4 ° C.
Carefully cook raw foods of animal origin (bacon, meat, fish, etc.).
Thoroughly wash raw vegetables and herbs or eat them preferably cooked.
Consume the food on the day of opening the package.
Be careful when eating away from home.

Difference between toxoplasmosis and listeria in pregnancy

Listeria and toxoplasmosis are both very common infections that are not dangerous to healthy individuals at all. The problem arises when the person who contract one of the two diseases is already debilitated or is pregnant. It all comes from bacteria commonly found in fruit, vegetables, soil, as well as raw meat and unpasteurized milk.
The bacterium of listeria in fact tends to be present above all in cheeses, read our article to learn more: risks and dangers of stracchino in pregnancy.
On the contrary, the toxoplasmosis bacterium mainly affects raw meat and cold cuts. Again we have written articles to better understand the issue and be prepared.