LISTERIOSIS
(Listeria monocytogenes)

Clinical Criteria
Any person with at least one of the following three:
– Listeriosis of newborns defined as
Stillbirth
OR
At least one of the following five in the first month of life:
– Granulomatosis infantiseptica
– Meningitis or meningoencephalitis
– Septicaemia
– Dyspnoea
– Lesions on skin, mucosal membranes or conjunctivae
– Listeriosis in pregnancy defined as at least one of the following three:
– Abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth
– Fever
– Influenza-like symptoms
– Other form of listeriosis defined as at least one of the following four:
– Fever
– Meningitis or meningoencephalitis
– Septicaemia
– Localized infections such as arthritis, endocarditis, and abscesses

Laboratory Criteria
At least one of the following two:
– Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from a normally sterile site
– Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from a normally non-sterile site in a foetus, stillborn,
newborn or the mother at or within 24 hours of birth

Epidemiological Criteria
At least one of the following three epidemiological links:
– Exposure to a common source
– Human to human transmission (vertical transmission)
– Exposure to contaminated food / drinking water

Additional information
Incubation period 3 - 70 days, most often 21 days

Case Classification
A. Possible case   NA
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria and with an epidemiological link
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the laboratory criteria
OR
Any mother with a laboratory confirmed listeriosis infection in her foetus, stillborn or
newborn