Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram positive bacterium that can

Last updated: 10/10/2023

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram positive bacterium that can cause a life threatening illness termed listeriosis This foodborne pathogen is especially dangerous if consumed by high risk groups that include the elderly people with weakened immune systems pregnant women and newborns In the U S each year there is estimated to be 1 600 cases of listeriosis with 260 deaths Unfortunately L monocytogenes outbreaks are not uncommon and so far this year there have already been two The first outbreak which affected 19 individuals 18 of which required hospitalization was associated with the consumption of leafy greens This outbreak spanned 16 states and included a case in Oklahoma The second outbreak which is still considered active involves the recall of contaminated Soft Serve On The Go ice cream cups with an individual in NY and PA both requiring hospitalization Knowing that L monocytogenes has a doubling time of 45 minutes and that ingestion of 1 x 10 bacteria can cause disease in high risk group members what would be the effect i e illness or not if an elderly resident of an assisted living facility consumed several pieces of lunch meat that originally contained a total of 7 631 organisms but which had been sitting in an improperly refrigerated deli display case for 3 hours which allowed optimal growth of the bacteria To justify your answer i e illness or not show all work use scientific notation in the format a aa x 10 and make sure to include the appropriate units 3 pts