Chances Of Getting Listeria From Deli Meat While Pregnant

In this article, we will take a close look at the risks associated with Listeria during pregnancy. We will discuss the chances of contracting Listeria from deli meats, the potential complications it can cause in pregnant women and their babies, and the treatment options available. We will also explore whether Listeria can be passed through breast milk.

Author - Jakub Gwiazdecki

Fifth year medical student at the Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava.

Jakub used MediSearch to find sources for this blog.

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What are the chances of getting Listeria from deli meat while pregnant?

There is a higher risk of getting a listeria infection while pregnant, due to the weakened immune system during pregnancy [1].

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists projects that the risk of Listeria infection during pregnancy is 10 times higher compared to the normal population [1]. Some research indicates that the risk is even 18-fold greater [2].

However, the risk of getting Listeria from deli meats remains relatively low. Generally, only one in seven cases of Listeria in pregnant women comes from deli meats [3].

Therefore, getting Listeria from deli meats is not a big concern in pregnant women. Nevertheless, pregnant women should limit the risk by avoiding deli meat consumption and other risk-bearing products.

What can Listeria cause in pregnant women?

Listeria causes a foodborne infection called listeriosis, which is more dangerous to the child than the mother. The mothers usually experience only mild symptoms of the disease [5], for instance, flu-like symptoms [6].

Listeriosis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery (before 37th week), sepsis, and meningitis [2].

Typically, if the symptoms start within 6 days after delivery, it means the child got the infection during the pregnancy. When the infection happens later, Listeria, the newborn, gets the infection during delivery [7].

The morality of neonatal and fetus listeriosis is more than 20% [3].

Additionally, newborns Listeria infection can lead to complications such as:

blindness,
paralysis,
brain,
heart,
and kidney disorders,
seizures [8].

How can you tell you have Listeria while pregnant?

In most cases, pregnant women experience a Listeria infection in the third trimester. More than 60% of all the infections occur at that time [6].

The most common symptoms include:

fever [9],
headaches [9],
muscle aches [9],
nausea and vomiting [9],
confusion [9],
stiff neck [9],
diarrhea [10].

Nevertheless, a Listeria infection in pregnant women can also show no symptoms [11]. Diagnosing a Listeria infection during pregnancy is not always straightforward.

If you experience similar symptoms while pregnant, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will perform diagnostic tests.

Laboratory methods for Listeria diagnosis include:

a blood culture [9],
Listeria-Tek test [12],
a nested PCR-based test [13],
detecting the IgG/M against Listeria [14],
a listeriolysin O test [15].

Can Listeria pass through breast milk?

Breast milk is not sterile, and Listeria can be found in breast milk [16]. However, at the moment, no definitive evidence suggests the bacterium can spread through that medium to the child.

What is the treatment for pregnant women infected by Listeria?

The primary treatment for pregnant women infected by Listeria is antibiotics. Usually, the first-line medication is penicillin [9].

In severe cases, hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic therapy may be necessary. For example, more than 6g daily amoxicillin therapy for 2 weeks [10].

In case of an allergy to the penicillin class, alternative trimethoprim /sulfamethoxazole can be used [9].

After the infection is gone and the fetus's survival is assured, delivery and long-term management are planned [17]. Newborns born with the infection will immediately receive antibiotics [7].