title: Incidence of listeriosis and related mortality among groups at risk of acquiring listeriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Listeriosis is a foodborne disease of significant public health concern that primarily affects persons with recognized underlying conditions or diseases that impair cell-mediated immunity. The degree of risk posed by the different underlying conditions is crucial to prioritize prevention programs that target the highest risk populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed cases of listeriosis reported in France from 2001 to 2008. Numbers of cases and deaths were tabulated by age and underlying condition. Measures of the impact of specific underlying conditions on the occurrence of listeriosis were calculated. For estimating the total number of persons living with specific diseases, we applied prevalence estimates of these diseases to the French population. Underlying conditions were ranked by the degree to which they increased the risk of listeriosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2001 to 2008, 1959 cases of listeriosis were reported in France (mean annual incidence 0.39 per 100,000 residents). Compared with persons <65 years with no underlying conditions, those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had a >1000-fold increased risk of acquiring listeriosis, and those with liver cancer; myeoloproliferative disorder; multiple myeloma; acute leukemia; giant cell arteritis; dialysis; esophageal, stomach, pancreas, lung, and brain cancer; cirrhosis; organ transplantation; and pregnancy had a 100-1000-fold increased risk of listeriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To be effective and acceptable to physicians and patients, listeriosis prevention strategies should be targeted based on evidence of increased risk. Stringent dietary guidance, to avoid specific foods with a high risk for Listeria contamination, should be targeted to pregnant women and to others at highest risk of listeriosis.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France. v.goulet@invs.sante.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: Marjolaine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hedberg
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vaillant
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Valk
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Desenclos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors