Overview
Listeriosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, typically acquired through consumption of contaminated food such as unpasteurized dairy products, soft cheeses, deli meats, smoked seafood, and raw vegetables. While it is not a genetic disorder, it is classified as a rare disease due to its relatively low incidence and significant clinical impact. The infection primarily affects the gastrointestinal system, the central nervous system, and in pregnant women, the fetoplacental unit. Key clinical presentations include meningitis, meningoencephalitis, septicemia, and febrile gastroenteritis. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or severe neonatal infection (early-onset or late-onset neonatal listeriosis). Individuals at highest risk include pregnant women, neonates, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised patients (such as those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, or individuals with HIV/AIDS or cancer). In healthy adults, infection may present as a mild, self-limiting febrile gastroenteritis, but in vulnerable populations it can progress to life-threatening invasive disease. Central nervous system involvement may manifest as severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Septicemia may present with high fever, muscle aches, and general malaise. Treatment of listeriosis involves antibiotic therapy, with ampicillin being the first-line agent, often combined with gentamicin for synergistic bactericidal activity, particularly in cases of meningitis or severe sepsis. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used as an alternative in penicillin-allergic patients. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy are critical, as the case fatality rate for invasive listeriosis can be as high as 20-30%. Prevention strategies focus on food safety measures, including proper food handling, refrigeration, and avoidance of high-risk foods by vulnerable populations.
Also known as:
Clinical phenotype terms— hover any for plain English:
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
2 eventsBoehringer Ingelheim — PHASE3
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
6 availableUrea 39.5% With 2% Salicylic Acid
Urea is useful for the treatment of hyperkeratotic conditions such as xerosis
Dermacure
Urea is useful for the treatment of hyperkeratotic conditions such as xerosis
VERMOX 500 mg chewable tablets
indicated for the treatment of patients one year of age and older with gastrointestinal infections caused by Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)
AmBisome
Treatment of patients with Candida species infections refractory to amphotericin B deoxycholate, or in patients where renal impairment or unacceptable toxicity precludes the use of amphotericin B deox…
Treatment of patients with Candida species infections refractory to amphotericin B deoxycholate, or in patients where renal impairment or unacceptable toxicity precludes the use of amphotericin B deoxycholate
Ammonium Lactate
indicated for the treatment of xerosis
Urea Cream 40 Percent
Urea is useful for the treatment of hyperkeratotic conditions such as xerosis
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
📍 Birmingham, Alabama
University of California San Francisco
📍 San Francisco, California
Catalina Research Institute, LLC
📍 Montclair, California
Southern California Research Center
📍 Coronado, California
Velocity Clinical Research, San Diego
📍 La Mesa, California
Del Sol Research Management, LLC
📍 Tucson, Arizona
Arizona Liver Health - Tucson
📍 Tucson, Arizona
Velocity Clinical Research-Huntington Park
📍 Huntington Park, California
Financial Resources
1 resourcesTravel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Listeriosis.
Community
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5 articlesCaregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Common questions about Listeriosis
What is Listeriosis?
Listeriosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, typically acquired through consumption of contaminated food such as unpasteurized dairy products, soft cheeses, deli meats, smoked seafood, and raw vegetables. While it is not a genetic disorder, it is classified as a rare disease due to its relatively low incidence and significant clinical impact. The infection primarily affects the gastrointestinal system, the central nervous system, and in pregnant women, the fetoplacental unit. Key clinical presentations include meningitis, meningoencephalitis, septicemia,
Are there clinical trials for Listeriosis?
Yes — 1 recruiting clinical trial is currently listed for Listeriosis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Listeriosis?
25 specialists and care centers treating Listeriosis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.