Study Finds Listeria Infecting Heart Tissue
Certain strains of Listeria monocytogenes appear to attack heart tissue, causing researchers to wonder if some who suffer Listeria infections are at greater risk of serious heart disease. The pathogen already causes one of the highest hospitalization rates of any foodborne illness and it has long been known as a menace during pregnancy -- causing stillbirth and miscarriage.
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Researchers from the University of Illinois, Chicago, found that mice infected with certain strains of Listeria monocytogenes had 10-15-fold more bacteria in their heart tissues than mice infected with other strains. Dr Nancy Freitag, who led the study, explained how about 10 percent of infections involved the heart. In those cases, cardiac illness is estimated to be up to 35 percent.
While little is known about how the organisms infect heart tissues, Freitag's group is trying to identify cardiac-targeting strains of Listeria. That could improve infection outcomes and help protect vulnerable groups, including patients with heart valve replacements. The group's study results were published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.
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