Human listeriosis in Scotland 1967-1988

In order to study the epidemiology of listeriosis from 1967-1988 in Scotland, various sources of data were examined. These included reports by laboratories, reference laboratory records, hospital death and discharge records, death certificates and hospital laboratory records. Cases were reported from 13 of Scotland's 15 Health Boards. Case ascertainment via laboratory reports to the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit was validated in two Health Boards. A total of 198 cases was identified with an overall attack rate which increased from 0.5 per million in 1967-1971 to 7.0 per million in 1987-1988. Feto-maternal cases were the commonest (64%). Of all cases, 33% were neonates; 53% presented with bacteraemia and 41% with meningitis. The predominant serovar of Listeria monocytogenes was 4b.