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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Most listeria infections are so mild they may go unnoticed. However, in some cases, a listeria infection can lead to life-threatening complications — including:

  • A generalized blood infection (septicemia)
  • Inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain (meningitis)

Complications of a listeria infection may be most severe for an unborn baby. Early in pregnancy, a listeria infection may lead to miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, a listeria infection may lead to stillbirth, premature birth or a potentially fatal infection in the baby after birth — even if the mother becomes only mildly ill.

References
  1. Reducing the risk of foodborne listeria. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm078667.htm. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
  2. Gelfand MS. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of listeria monocytogenes infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
  3. Baltimore RS. Listeria monocytogenes. In: Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
  4. Lorber B. Listerosis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
  5. Bortolussi R. Listeriosis: A primer. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2008;179:795.
DS00963 March 22, 2011

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