Listeriosis in mainland China: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review to better understand the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of listeriosis patients in mainland China.

METHODS: The six most widely used Chinese and English databases were searched. Records on patients with listeriosis in mainland China reported from 2011 to 2017 were extracted. The clinical data of patients and information on clinical isolates of Listeria were collected and analysed.

RESULTS: In total, 136 records and 562 listeriosis patients were reported. The number of patients was much higher than that reported in the past decade. The 227 included non-perinatal listeriosis patients had a mortality rate of 23.78%. Of the 231 perinatal listeriosis patients, 32.68% resulted in abortion and/or new-born death. All listeriosis patients were reported as being sporadic. Only 3 patients were traced to infection via a meat product, while 33.12% were health care-associated infections.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of patients with listeriosis in mainland China may have previously been underestimated. Perinatal cases in mainland China account for a much higher proportion than what is usually described. Considering the high number of listeriosis patients in China, a comprehensive monitoring system for listeria is urgently needed in China.