Listeriosis: recognizing it, treating it, preventing it.

Listeria monocytogenes has become a major pathogen in foodborne illness. It most often affects patients who are pregnant, at the extremes of life, or immunocompromised in some way. A variety of clinical manifestations are possible, but bacteremia and meningitis are most common. This article reviews the epidemiology, microbiology, populations at risk, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention of listeriosis.