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. 2006 Sep;12(9):1361-6.
doi: 10.3201/eid1209.051657.

Changing pattern of human listeriosis, England and Wales, 2001-2004

Iain A Gillespie  1 , Jim McLauchlin, Kathie A Grant, Christine L Little, Vina Mithani, Celia Penman, Christopher Lane, Martyn Regan
Affiliations

Changing pattern of human listeriosis, England and Wales, 2001-2004

Iain A Gillespie et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Sep.

Abstract

Microbiologic and epidemiologic data on 1,933 cases of human listeriosis reported in England and Wales from 1990 to 2004 were reviewed. A substantial increase in incidence occurred from 2001 to 2004. Ten clusters (60 cases), likely to represent common-source outbreaks, were detected. However, these clusters did not account for the upsurge in incidence, which occurred sporadically, predominantly in patients > or =60 years of age with bacteremia and which was independent of sex; regional, seasonal, ethnic, or socioeconomic differences; underlying conditions; or Listeria monocytogenes subtype. The reasons for the increase are not known, but since multiple L. monocytogenes strains were responsible, this upsurge is unlikely to be due to a common-source outbreak. In the absence of risk factors for listeriosis in this emerging at-risk sector of the population, dietary advice on avoiding high-risk foods should be provided routinely to the elderly and immunocompromised, not just to pregnant women.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sporadic cases of listeriosis reported in England and Wales, 1990–2004.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk for sporadic nonpregnancy-associated listeriosis by age group, England and Wales, 1993–2004. Individual data shown for years 2001–2004.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Biannual risk for sporadic nonpregnancy-associated listeriosis in patients >60 years of age, by region, England and Wales, 1990–2004. E Mids, East Midlands; East, East of England; N East, Northeast England; N West, Northwest England; S East, Southeast England; S West, Southwest England; W Mids, West Midlands, Wales; York & Hum, Yorkshire and the Humber.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sporadic nonpregnancy-associated listeriosis in patients with central nervous system infections and bacteremia alone, England and Wales, 1990–2004.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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