Question

Robert P. Williams, the microbiologist, described the process that causes bread and communion wafers to appear as though blood is on them as stemming from red pigment found in _________. The characteristic color has caused many to claim it is the blood of Christ, a divine miracle, while others look even deeper, claiming that the intricate complexity of the pigment at least bears evidence of creative design.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Serratia marcescens

The genus Serratia can be found in food, water and plants and its pathogenicity has been recognized since the 1960s. Serratia marcescens is the most frequently isolated species, with Serratia liquefaciens being the rarest, found in cases of infection related to the contact lens and transfusion of contaminated blood. The present summary reports an outbreak of infection by this agent, possibly related to the contamination of the sphygmomanometer used to calibrate the hemodynamic monitoring system.

Intravascular pressure monitoring systems are widely used in the hemodynamic assessment of critically ill patients. These systems consist of a fluid catheter, connected to the patient's intravascular space and an electronic transducer, which transforms the fluid pressure into electrical impulses, captured by a monitor. These systems are infused to prevent clots and must be calibrated periodically.