Increased incidence and mortality from Listeria monocytogenes infection in Spain

Abstract

Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a health threat worldwide given its high mortality and the growing of high-risk susceptible populations. Methods: All hospitalizations with a diagnosis of LM in the National Registry of Hospital Discharges were examined in Spain from 2000 to 2021. Results: A total of 8152 hospital admissions with LM were identified. The mean age was 59.5 years and 48% were immunosuppressed (IS).The rate of LM hospitalizations increased from 5 per 1 million population in 2000 to 8.9 in 2021 (p 65 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16), sepsis (OR = 2.60), meningoencephalitis (OR = 1.72), endocarditis (OR = 2.0), neonatal listeriosis (OR = 2.10) and IS (OR = 2.09) were associated with mortality. Conclusions: The number of patients hospitalized with LM in Spain has increased significantly from 2000 to 2021. The increase in the rate of admissions and deaths was largely driven by the growing proportion of elderly and IS patients.

Keywords

• Listeriosis
• Foodborne outbreak
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Mortality
• Elderly
• Immunosuppressed patients