Sources and Risk Factors for Infection with Listeria monocytogenes

• seafood or smoked fish?

• unpasteurized milk, soft style cheese made from unpasteurized milk, butter, ice cream, or other dairy product?

• vegetable produce such as alfalfa sprouts or coleslaw?

• delicatessen meats or hot dogs?

• a ready-to-eat food product?

• inject a drug of abuse?

• been recently born to a woman with listeriosis?

• have contact with animals?

• had a traumatic injury around plants or animals?

• been recently in a hospital where there have been other cases of listeriosis?

• had a recent fecal-oral exposure?

• have a history of gastrectomy?

• take a medicine that reduces gastric acid?

• have altered bowel flora?

• have a break in the intestinal mucosa from ulcerative colitis, surgery, colon cancer or other cause?

Is the patient a veterinarian, farmer, food processor or meat handler?