Dear Lactnet friends,

I've still been gathering information about my cabbage/listeria connection.
 After reading Tom Hale's comments on botulism, I thought that getting his
input would be most helpful.  I'm sharing his comments below.

A special note of apology to Kathleen Bruce.  I know that you asked for
further clarification on this days ago.  I have no references specific to the
use of cabbage for engorgement and its connection to listeria. The concern
was first raised to an LC colleague of mine at another area hospital by an
infectious disease doctor.

Here are Tom Hale's comments:
Listeria M.  is a normal environmental microbe, that actually exists in at
least 5% of the human population in a 'carrier' state.  It is ubiquitious,
and is in highest concentrations in sewage, surface water, vegetation,  and
fields contaminated with animal waste.  The most common infections produced
by listeria are:
        1.    Septicemia
        2.    Meningoencephalitis
        3.    Fetal infections(neonatal listeriosis)

although these are actually quite uncommon.

           Listeria is an  anaerobic, non-sporulating,  gram + bacterial
rod.  Although is can penetrate the mucosa of the eye,  it has a very
difficult time penetrating normal skin. Epidemiology studies do not show any
standard way of acquiring the infection,  but rather it is acquired from a
whole host of sources.  However,  to your question,  Cabbage fertilized with
sheep manure(several of which died from the infection) was apparently
contaminated.  It was subsequently stored at 4 degrees Centegrade.
(Listeria is unique in that it can grow quite readily at low temperatures).
The above cabbage was implicated in one such outbreak of listeria
infections.   The fact that it was cabbage was unfortunate,  it could just
as easily been lettuce, carrots,  or green beans.

Lastly,  listeria infections are really quite easily treated with ampicillin
and gentamicin,  so they seldom produce a high morbidity.   I hope this
helps.   I did not send this the LACTNET,  but you may if you wish.

TWHale, Ph.D.
Texas Tech Univ. School of Medicine
Dept. of Pediatrics
Amarillo, Texas