ECDC, EFSA and EURL project describes molecular epidemiology of listeriosis in humans and L. monocytogenes in food

A collaborative study between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) has published their report describing molecular epidemiology of listeriosis in humans and Listeria monocytogenes in food. After ingestion of L. monocytogenes bacteria via contaminated food, infection can cause severe, life-threatening disease, often manifested as septicaemia and/or meningitis, particularly among elderly and immunocompromised people, as well as complications related to pregnancy.

This collaborative study was initiated in 2010, with the aim of describing using a one health approach the molecular epidemiology of listeriosis in humans and food in a two-year period. The study on L. monocytogenes in food was conducted on three categories of ready-to-eat food, including packaged hot or cold smoked or cured fish, soft or semi-soft cheeses, and packaged heat-treated meat products. The report presents the objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of the study, as well as recommendations for further studies.

Source: ECDC, 24 March 2021