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Chapter 20 - Listeriosis

from Section 2 - Infections in Pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2019

By
Adel Elkady ,
Prabha Sinha  and
Soad Ali Zaki Hassan
Edited by
Adel Elkady ,
Prabha Sinha  and
Soad Ali Zaki Hassan
Adel Elkady
Affiliation:
Police Force Hospital, Cairo
Prabha Sinha
Affiliation:
Oman Medical College, Oman
Soad Ali Zaki Hassan
Affiliation:
Alexandria University
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Summary

In the general population, Listeria infection is relatively uncommon, with a prevalence of approximately 4 per million in Canada, 0.27 per million in the USA and between 0.1 and 11.3 per million population in different parts of Europe.

Pregnant women have a 12- to 18-fold increased risk in pregnancy (12/100 000), compared with the non-pregnant population.

Out of all infections with Listeria, 16–27 per cent occur in pregnant women.

The exact cause of its higher prevalence in pregnancy is not known. Immunosuppression associated with pregnancy results in suppression of cell-mediated immunity in the placenta, due to high concentration of maternal hormones and other unknown mechanisms.

Approximately 20 per cent of Listeria infections involve neonatal infection with potentially severe complications, therefore it is important to stop the outbreaks in pregnant woman and the unwanted consequences for their unborn fetuses.

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Type
Chapter
Information
Infections in Pregnancy
An Evidence-Based Approach
 , pp. 121 - 128
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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References

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