Which of the following is not listed among PulseNet's monitored pathogens?

• A. Campylobacter
• B. Staphylococcus aureus
• C. Listeria monocytogenes
• D. Vibrio cholerae

Answer: (B)

PulseNet is a national network that uses DNA-based typing to detect and link foodborne illness outbreaks by specific bacterial pathogens. The pathogens it monitors are those that spread through food and can be traced by genetic fingerprints across many labs, such as Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 and related non-O157 strains. Staphylococcus aureus is not part of PulseNet’s standard monitoring panel. This is because many S. aureus illness cases arise from preformed toxins in food rather than direct clonal spread of bacteria that can be tracked through molecular subtyping across networks, so it isn’t included in PulseNet’s routine surveillance.