Human nutrition and biology - Essay Example

The process of epidemiological studies of the bacteria helps to identify the relationships between the occurrence of disease and the factors that influence it. Moreover, it also provides an insight into the transmission and prevention of the disease. The role of epidemiology is crucial in increasing the knowledge available regarding the pathological manifestations of the disease-causing organism and in recognizing which groups of people are at a risk of acquiring that disease. The intent of this paper is to develop a pathway that identifies the causative agent involved in epidemiological study using the outbreak of E.

coli O157 as an example. The O157:H7 variety has been identified as one such strain that causes severe food poisoning. In order to analyze the various factors that cause the clinical manifestation of the infectious diseases caused by E. coli, one needs to appreciate that the health of the person is impacted by not only internal factors but also by external influences. The external influences encompass the risk factors such as environmental factors including climate, topography of the area, sanitary and hygienic conditions as well as the age and gender of the person (Rangel et al. 2005). There are also particular factors that can affect the health of the person.

These include the substances that are produced by the pathogen itself. Infection by E. coli results due to the interaction between the causative bacteria, the environmental conditions and the host factors (Straw & Taylor 2006). Rangel, JM, Sparling, PH, Crowe, C, Griffin, PM, Swerdlow, DL 2005, Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks, United States, 1982–2002, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, viewed on 1 January, 2010, Slutsker, L, Ries, AA, Greene KD, Wells, JG, Hutwagner, L & Griffin, PM 1992, ‘Escheichia coli O157:H7 Diarrhea in the United States: Clinical and Epidemiologic Features’, Annals of Internal