--- title: Treatment for Listeria Infection date: 2007-11-12T15:49:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-treatment" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) / # Treatment for Listeria Infection ### *Listeria* infections typically resolve without treatment, but antibiotics may be necessary to treat some cases. Non-invasive *Listeria* infection is usually a self-limiting illness—which means that a majority of infected individuals will improve without the need for medical care. But for those patients with a high fever, a stool culture and antibiotic treatment may be justified (even for otherwise healthy individuals). In a retrospective observational study conducted in Denmark between 1997 and 2012, the researchers found a statistically significant association between inadequate empiric therapy of *L. monocytogenes* bacteremia/meningitis and a higher 30-day mortality. They noted that this was likely related to the late identification of *Listeria* as the offending pathogen: > No primary focus of infection was found in the majority of patients, most probably because *L. monocytogenes* bacteraemia has few clinical characteristics except for fever, which may subside intermittently. Hence, empiric treatment often followed the local guidelines for treatment of sepsis with an unknown focus. > Indeed, more than half of the patients received inadequate empiric antibiotic treatment, and the therapy was not changed until *L. monocytogenes* was cultured from blood or CSF. Invasive infections with *Listeria* can be treated with antibiotics. When infection occurs during pregnancy, antibiotics given promptly to the pregnant woman can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn. Babies with listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until physicians are certain of the diagnosis. From Johns Hopkins’ ABX Guide for *Listeria monocytogenes*: ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutlisteriacom-images/outbreaks/image9.jpeg) [ Next: Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/antimicrobial-resistance-in-bacteria) ### More information about Listeria [August 23, 2023 ###### Listeria outbreak: Three die after drinking contaminated milkshakes Three people have died, and three others are in hospital after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria in the US state of Washington, health officials say. Marler Clark, the Listeria ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/listeria-outbreak-three-die-after-drinking-contaminated-milkshakes) [July 12, 2023 ###### 2011 Listeria outbreaks linked to cantaloupes: A history A total of 148 persons infected with any of the five outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported to the CDC from 28 states. The number of infected persons identified ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/2011-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-cantaloupes-a-history) [March 26, 2023 ###### Listeria linked to yogurt prompts recall Clio Snacks of Piscataway, New Jersey, is voluntarily recalling 581 cases of its Strawberry Granola & Greek Yogurt Parfait Bar due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/listeria-linked-to-yogurt-prompts-recall) [November 20, 2022 ###### Enoki Mushrooms recalled again As of November 15, 2022, two people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from two states. Sick people’s samples were collected from October 5, 2022, to October 8, 2022. ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/enoki-mushrooms-recalled-again) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=listeria&year=all) ## All Listeria Resources [###### Listeria Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/about-listeria) [###### The Incidence of Listeria Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/the-incidence-of-listeria-infections) [###### The Prevalence of Listeria in Food and the Environment ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-prevalence) [###### Transmission of and Infection with Listeria ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/transmission-of-and-infection-with-listeria) [###### Who is Most at Risk of Becoming Ill with Listeria? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/who-is-most-at-risk-for-becoming-ill-with-listeria) [###### What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-symptoms-risks) [###### Complications of Listeria Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/complications-of-listeria-infection) [###### How is Listeria Infection Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-diagnosis) [###### Treatment for Listeria Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-treatment) [###### Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/antimicrobial-resistance-in-bacteria) [###### The Economic Impact of Listeria Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/the-economic-impact-of-listeria-infections) [###### Preventing Listeria Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-prevention) [###### Listeria References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)