---

From the CDC website, August 2, 2024,
About Listeria Infection | Listeria Infection | CDC 
www.cdc.gov

---

CDC

Listeria Infection (Listeriosis)

About Listeria Infection

Key Points

• Listeria are bacteria (germs) that can contaminate many foods.
• People who eat those foods can get infected with the bacteria.
• Listeria infection is rare, but serious.
• The good news is that you can take steps to prevent infection.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the person infected and the part of the body affected.

Two kinds of illness‎

Listeria can cause invasive illness and intestinal illness. Learn about each kind of illness, including common symptoms and when to talk to your healthcare provider.

People at risk

Listeria infection can be especially harmful for some people, including

• Pregnant people
• Newborns
• Adults aged 65 or older
• People with weakened immune systems

Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.

Prevention

People at risk – and those who prepare food for them – should:

• Know the foods more likely to be contaminated with Listeria
• Choose safer food options

Everyone can:

• Follow the Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill guidelines
• Stay up to date on foodborne outbreaks and food recalls
• Visit FoodSafety.gov more tips on preventing food poisoning

Quick facts

Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States.

CDC estimates that each year in the United States,

• 1,600 people are infected with Listeria, and
• 260 people die from the infection.

Diagnosis

Listeria infection is usually diagnosed when a laboratory test grows Listeria from a sample of an ill person's body fluid or tissue.

Treatment

Treatment varies based on the kind of illness and its severity.

Fluids

People with diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration is not having enough water in the body.

Antibiotics

Invasive illness: People with an invasive illness are treated with antibiotics.

Intestinal illness: Most people recover from an intestinal illness without antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics are needed only for patients who are very ill or at risk of becoming very ill.

Outbreaks

When several people get sick from eating or drinking the same contaminated food, it's defined as a foodborne disease outbreak.

Visit these pages to learn about outbreaks of Listeria infection in the United States.

Outbreaks of Listeria Infection
Stay informed about active outbreak investigations and learn about older ones.

Active Investigations of Multistate Foodborne Outbreaks
See which multistate foodborne outbreaks CDC is investigating each week.

BEAM Dashboard
Use the "NORS View" tab to learn about outbreaks of Listeria infection reported through CDC's National Outbreak Reporting System.