In November 017, the 39-week-old weeks of the pregnancy had been blighted for several days, but what Jean Xiao Zhou (a pseudonym) did not expect was that this sudden high fever killed the baby that could have been born for two months. Life, and Xiao Zhou himself almost left the world.
The culprit responsible for this tragedy is a piece of frozen meat taken from the refrigerator. Why is a piece of frozen meat fatal? How can the food in the refrigerator be stored and placed in order to ensure safety? How is the Listeria monocytogenes killing? How to stay away from listeria in your life?
April 21st, 21st: 48: CCTV Finance Channel "Workplace Health Class" will invite Li Taisheng, chief physician of Infectious Diseases Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Cao Yong, deputy chief physician to talk about the mysterious Listeria monocytogenes.
Killer in the fridge: Listeria
In 1926, scientist Murray discovered for the first time in the dead rabbit a strange bacterium, which was later known as the 'fridge killer' Listeria.
Listeria monocytogenes is widely found in nature, including soil, waters, insects, plants, vegetables, fish, birds, wild animals, poultry, etc. It has been found in its presence. There are ten strains of Listeria monocytogenes recognized internationally, but the real There is only one type of Listeria monocytogenes that can cause human diseases. Listeria can enter the body through contact with the eyes and broken skin, but in most cases it is eaten. Its main vector is food, which is the most deadly food. One of the source pathogens.
Most particularly, Listeria is also an anaerobic bacterium. Under anaerobic conditions, the invasiveness of Listeria is more than 100 times higher than normal.
Known as the 'refrigerator killer', the main reason is that Listeria can survive at 2~42°C. It is one of the main pathogens that threaten human health with refrigerated food. In addition, Listeria is highly adaptable and it has resistance to drying. The ability to withstand high salt conditions can adapt to both acidic and alkaline conditions. Listeria monocytogenes present in foods can cause human life safety.
Listeria contamination risk exists for the following foods:
◆ cheese made from unpasteurized raw milk;
◆ unsterilized mayonnaise;
◆ Prepare in advance for sandwiches that have been stored for a long time;
◆ incompletely cooked bean sprouts;
◆ Salad bags purchased outside or salads prepared in advance.
Listeria monocytogenes is an important public health problem. The United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and the European Union have listed listeriosis as a statutory infectious disease surveillance project.
Be alert to these symptoms, be careful of Listeria bacteria looking for you
The early symptoms of Listeria infection are not obvious. Some symptoms after infection are similar to colds. Infected patients usually start with diarrhea, fever, severe fever in a few days or weeks, stiff neck, confusion, muscles. Weakness or vomiting. After eating foods that carry Listeria monocytogenes, the symptoms appear within 3 days, usually about 1 to 3 weeks before the onset of symptoms. However, some people develop symptoms 2 months after eating contaminated foods.
However, the more dangerous of Listeria is that it can enter the lymphatic system through the bloodstream and invade the brain. Encephalitis and meningitis are the main causes of death in patients with Listeria. Especially in pregnant women, with pregnancy, pregnant women The cell's immune response is suppressed, which makes her body more vulnerable to Listeria infection. Pregnant women also transmit the disease to the fetus, newborn baby, lead to miscarriage, fetal death, or cause newborn baby suffering from sepsis or meningitis.
When the following symptoms occur, consider whether you are infected with Listeria:
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, and you are pregnant, are older, have a serious physical illness or are using drugs that weaken the immune system, you should go to the hospital for further examination.
If your newborn has the following conditions, you should contact a doctor or nurse:
● Fever or any other symptom above
● Behave differently than usual, such as eating less than usual, breathing faster or looking drowsy
Be careful, you may be the target of Listeria!
Although Listeria is widespread in our lives, there is no need to worry too much. Only some people are more susceptible to Listeria.
Listeria infection can cause mild or serious problems. It is usually not severe in healthy people, but it can be more dangerous in pregnant women than in non-pregnant people.
Who are susceptible to Listeria and are at risk of serious problems?
● pregnant women;
Newborn
● older people;
● people suffering from AIDS, cancer, diabetes or other serious physical diseases;
● People who have received organ transplantation or stem cell transplantation;
● People who use drugs that make it difficult for the body to fight infections.
How can high-risk groups prevent Listeria infection?
Reduce the risk of Listeria infection by paying attention to food safety. Tips include:
● Avoid intake of unpasteurized milk and cheese, and foods made from them;
● Wash thoroughly before eating fruits and vegetables;
● Make sure that you are cooked thoroughly when cooking meat and seafood;
● To achieve the degree of hardening of the egg yolk when cooking eggs;
● Hand, knife and chopping board should be cleaned after contact with raw food.
Listeria strains have the ability to resist dryness and high salinity, and their vitality is tenacious. However, Listeria is not resistant to heat, pasteurization, and cooking through these simple measures can deal with it.
Is there a test for Listeria monocytogenes?
There are currently several different types of related tests. Select based on symptoms, whether pregnant or if there are other physical illnesses. Specific examinations include:
● blood test;
● Lumbar puncture;
●Check stools;
● Brain imaging examination.
Pregnant women, newborns and people with serious Listeria infections are treated with antibiotics. These drugs are usually given to patients through intravenous infusions. Patients with severe illness may need hospitalization.
People who are digestive system-infected with Listeria but are otherwise healthy do not usually need treatment. The infection usually resolves itself in about 2 days.
Brain infections are more difficult to treat than other parts of the infection. The symptoms of Listeria infections in the brain may progress faster and are more likely to be life-threatening and more serious. Need timely and effective support and symptomatic treatment, some serious The situation needs to be treated in the intensive care unit.
In addition, the choice of drug for brain infection is also more difficult. Bacterial infections are often treated with antibiotics, but the types of antibiotics that can enter the brain are limited. Sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what caused the infection. In addition, bacteria may also exist. Drug resistance, these all increase the difficulty of drug treatment. Each type of encephalitis is different in severity, but in any case, encephalitis itself is a more serious disease. Even if it is treated effectively, the patient may still stay together after treatment. Misadjustments, aphasia, numbness, limb paralysis, and other sequelae.