Infectious Diseases A-Z: Prevent listeria infection

Public health officials are encouraging consumers to take steps to reduce their risk of listeria infection after recent outbreaks of the foodborne illness. "Listeria is a type of bacteria that can be found in food products, and can cause quite serious foodborne illness in certain populations," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist. "We worry about it especially in pregnant women and their newborns, and people who have weakened immune systems, and in the elderly."

She says the most common foods that listeria infection is associated with are usually deli meats, hot dogs, and products that are refrigerated for a prolonged period of time. "Listeria is one of the few bacteria that likes to divide at low temperatures. That’s why we see this being a problem in foods that are refrigerated, and in foods that usually don’t transmit too many infections."