Erin C. is a 27-year-old professional woman who describes a recent bout of \"the
ID: 267662 • Letter: E
Question
Erin C. is a 27-year-old professional woman who describes a recent bout of "the 24-hour flu" she experienced after eating out with friends over the weekend. She reports feeling an upset stomach at work on Monday with an increase in symptoms that developed into severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and some bloody diarrhea, continuing into the evening. She called her doctor the next morning and reported what she had eaten the day before she developed symptoms: Two glasses of wine, broiled rare steak with mushroom sauce, a baked potato with sour cream and butter, and an assorted greens salad with oil and vinegar dressing from the salad bar where she was dining with friends. Earlier on that same day, she had eaten leftovers from her refrigerator—a small pork chop, spinach salad, and a glass of milk from a local organic dairy farm.
1. What type of illness is Erin likely experiencing?
2. Which food or beverage is least likely to have made Erin sick?
3. Erin's doctor believes she has a foodborne illness caused by E. coli. What type of foodborne illness does E. coli cause?
4. Which food is the likely source of the E. coli contamination that made Erin sick?
5. Erin tells the doctor that she is 10 weeks pregnant, and she is concerned because she has heard that there is a foodborne illness that causes pregnancy complications. Which of the following is pathogens is she referring to?
6. Erin got sick from Staphylococcus aureus two years ago. Which of the following foods is associated with Staphylococcus aureus?
7. Assuming Erin's illness is caused by E. coli, what food safety practice would reduce her risk of getting E. coli again?
8. While at the doctor, Erin asks about eating fish while she is pregnant. The doctor would most likely advise her to:
a. mercury poisoning b. side effects from GMO food products c. morning sickness d. foodborne illness e. the fluExplanation / Answer
Answer 1. Food borne illness
Because Erin has developed the symptoms after having the food, that means food has caused some infection in her body. Food borne diseases occurs due to the intake of contaminated food.
Answer 2. Leftovers
Because it includes all the contaminated food stuffs like pork, salad and milk. Microbial growth is quite common when the food is kept for long in the refrigerator because of the moisture content in the fridge plus cooked has a definite self life if after that it is consumed, it leads to infection.
Answer 3. Option c
Food intoxication is caused by the consumption of microbial contaminated food.
Answer 4. Option b
Various researches with the raw milk has proved that it is contaminated with the E. coli strain, E. coli O157:H7. If such raw milk is consumed it leads to the production of the Shigella toxin, which causes infection in the digestive system.
Answer 5. Listeria
Infection with Listeria is known as listeriosis. Listeria infection during the pregnancy leads to preterm delivery, still births etc. It can also be present in the raw milk, that made Erin worried.
Answer 6. Option a
Among all the given options tuna salads are the best food stuffs for the Staphylococcus aureus. It's incubation period is 1-6 hours and causes discomfort in the digestive system in various ways.
Answer 7. Option e
Poor canning practice is favorable for the growth of harmful strains of E. coli and S. aureus, and if such food is consumed it leads to food poisoning.
Answer 8. Option b
Canned tuna light is considered to be the best during pregnancy because of its low mercury content.
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