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Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
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Outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections associated with pasteurized milk from a local dairy--Massachusetts,

    MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
    |October 11, 2008
    PubMed

    Insights

    A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Massachusetts was linked to pasteurized milk, causing five illnesses and three deaths. This highlights the risk of post-pasteurization contamination in fluid milk products.

    Area of Science:

    • Foodborne illness surveillance
    • Microbial forensics
    • Public health microbiology

    Background:

    • Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes.
    • Outbreaks can be challenging to detect, especially when linked to widely consumed products like fluid milk.

    Observation:

    • A cluster of Listeria monocytogenes infections in central Massachusetts was identified.
    • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) linked patient isolates to a common source.

    Findings:

    • An investigation implicated pasteurized fluid milk from a local dairy as the source of the outbreak.
    • The outbreak resulted in five confirmed cases and three fatalities.

    Implications:

    • This case underscores the potential for contamination of pasteurized milk products after the pasteurization process.
    • Effective surveillance and rapid response are crucial for controlling foodborne outbreaks.

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