RBC & Listeria

Red blood cells, also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles, haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes, are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate's principal means of delivering oxygen to the body tissues-via blood flow through the circulatory system.

Listeria is a genus of bacteria. Listeria species are Gram-positive, rod-shaped, and facultatively anaerobic, and do not produce endospores. The major human pathogen in the genus Listeria is L. monocytogenes. It is usually the causative agent of the relatively rare bacterial disease listeriosis, an infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria. Listeriosis can give rise to serious illness in pregnant women, newborns, adults with weakened immune systems and the elderly, and may bring about gastroenteritis in others who have been severely infected. Listeriosis is a serious disease for humans; the overt form of the disease has a case-fatality rate of around 20%. The two main clinical manifestations are sepsis and meningitis. The prevention of listeriosis, a foodborne illness, requires effective sanitation of food contact surfaces. Ethanol is an effective topical sanitizer against Listeria. Quaternary ammonium can be used in conjunction with alcohol as a food-contact safe sanitizer with increased duration of the sanitizing action. Refrigerated food in the home should be kept below 4°C (39°F) to discourage bacterial growth. Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products should be avoided. All raw meats (including beef, pork, poultry, and seafood) should be cooked to a safe internal temperature, typically 73°C (165°F), so as to kill the food-borne pathogen. In non-invasive listeriosis, the bacteria often remain within the digestive tract, leading to mild symptoms lasting only a few days and requiring only supportive care. Muscle pain and fever in mild cases can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, and diarrhea and gastroenteritis can be treated with over-the-counter medications if necessary. In invasive listeriosis, the bacteria have spread to the bloodstream and central nervous system. Treatment includes intravenous delivery of high-dose antibiotics and in-patient hospital care.