Why Test: Environmental Factors

Why Test

Societal change has upset evolutionary human/biome symbiosis, causing:
- Increased infectious agent susceptibility
- Disrupted immune function
- Compromised basic gut health/ nutrition/ antibiotics
Human biology is out of kilter with society

Significant cause of morbidity and mortality
- Significant in developing countries
  - Globally, estimated 1.7 billion cases of diarrheal disease every year
  - Major cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality around the world, accounting for 1.34 million deaths annually in children younger than 5 years, or roughly 15% of all child deaths.
- More significant in the young, old, and infirm
In the U.S. adults experience 99 million episodes annually
- 8 million physician visits
- More than 250,000 hospitalizations
- Primary risk factor: exposure to children
In the U.S., gastrointestinal infections in pediatric patients result in
- 220,000 hospital admissions
- 1.5 million outpatient visits
- 300 deaths in children under 5 annually
- Cost of around $1Billion
48 million of reported cases epidemiologically associated with food
Utilizing current technology, approximately 80% of causes are not identified
Burden of infectious diarrhea is underdiagnosed and underreported

Societal change has upset evolutionary human/biome symbiosis, causing:
- Increased infectious agent susceptibility
- Disrupted immune function
- Compromised basic gut health/ nutrition/ antibiotics
Human biology is out of kilter with society

Significant cause of morbidity and mortality
- Significant in developing countries
  - Globally, estimated 1.7 billion cases of diarrheal disease every year
  - Major cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality around the world, accounting for 1.34 million deaths annually in children younger than 5 years, or roughly 15% of all child deaths.
- More significant in the young, old, and infirm
In the U.S. adults experience 99 million episodes annually
- 8 million physician visits
- More than 250,000 hospitalizations
- Primary risk factor: exposure to children
In the U.S., gastrointestinal infections in pediatric patients result in
- 220,000 hospital admissions
- 1.5 million outpatient visits
- 300 deaths in children under 5 annually
- Cost of around $1Billion
48 million of reported cases epidemiologically associated with food
Utilizing current technology, approximately 80% of causes are not identified
Burden of infectious diarrhea is underdiagnosed and underreported

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine
Characterized by abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever
Acute gastroenteritis lasts fewer than 14 days
Persistent gastroenteritis last between 14 and 30 days
Chronic gastroenteritis lasts more than 30 days
Can be infectious, inflammatory, toxigenic

Pathogens that make a toxin in the food before it is consumed (Bacillus sp., Staph aureus)
Pathogens that make a toxin in the gastrointestinal tract, after the food is ingested (Clostridium perfringens)
Pathogens that invade the bowel wall causing inflammatory diarrhea
Pathogens that invade the bowel wall and produce toxins
Alteration of the gut biome associated with antibiotics and other agents such as chemotherapy

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