The presence of Listeria rods, especially Listeria monocytogenes, in the environment and food products, contributes each year to death of both humans and animals. The ability of bacteria to lead a saprophytic and parasitic existence as well as insensitivity to many physicochemical factors greatly facilitates the spread and guarantees access to a wide range of vulnerable organisms. Although the factors predisposing to infection result in a relatively low incidence of disease, infections are characterized by high mortality and often the need of hospitalization. The disease most often manifests itself in the form of bacteremia, meningitis and encephalitis as well as perinatal infections. The way Listeria spreads in the body contributes to the identification of new types of the disease. Recent studies on the acquisition of pathogenicity traits, dose and development of antibiotic resistance as well as numerous reports on incidence of these bacteria and the epidemics they caused, have led to more efficient monitoring of the pathogen . The qualification of the disease has also changed and, currently, listeriosis is considered a contemporary threat to life and health.
1. Introduction. 2. Genus Listeria. Characteristics and traits responsible for pathogenicity. 3. Listeriosis. Transmission pathways. 4. The beginning and course of the infection. 5. Clinical forms of listeriosis. 5.1. Bacteremia. 5.2. Central nervous system infections. 5.3. Perinatal infections. 5.4. Gastroenteritis. 5.5. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). 5.6. Endocarditis. 5.7. Inflammation and liver abscess. 5.8. Skin and eye infections. 5.9. Musculoskeletal infection. 6. Monitoring. 7. Normalization. 8. Summary
