Listeriosis, caused by the Gram-positive bacterial pathogen Listeria
monocytogenes, is a major foodborne illness in the United
States. Listeriosis in adults usually occurs after consumption of
contaminated food, with Ready-To-Eat (RTE) foods being responsible
for nearly all of the 1600 listeriosis infections reported
annually in the United States.The disease is most frequently clinically
manifested as septicemia, central nervous system infections,
and feto-maternal infections. Persons over the age of 65, pregnant
women, and immunocompromised individuals account for
approximately 75% of these infections