What are bacteria, types, and ways to prevent infections

Table of Contents

1. What are bacteria?
2. Types of bacteria
3. Main diseases caused by bacteria
4. What are the types of bacterial infections?
5. How do bacterial infections spread?
6. What are the common symptoms of a bacterial infection?
7. Ways to prevent bacterial infections

Bacteria live everywhere, in soil and water and on almost any other surface, including the human body. But still, what are bacteria? Well, they are microorganisms that, in most cases, will not cause any trouble. That is because the immune system protects us from potentially dangerous pathogenic bacteria. However, some types of bacteria are formidable adversaries that can cause a range of problems.

1. What are bacteria?

Bacteria are tiny single-celled organisms. They are found almost everywhere and are vital to the planet's ecosystems. Some species can live in extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. The human body is full of bacteria, and in fact, it is estimated that we have more bacterial cells than human cells. Most bacteria in the body are harmless, and some are even helpful. A relatively small number of species cause diseases.

Bacteria are microorganisms that come in different shapes, such as spheres, rods, or spirals. Although there are pathogenic bacteria that will cause disease, we cannot ignore the existence of good bacteria. For example, in our digestive system, in the intestine, we have bacteria that are highly necessary to help our body function normally.

It is important to keep in mind that there are diseases caused by bacteria. These bacterial infections have a major impact on public health. Most bacterial diseases are generally easier to treat than viral infections. This is due to the fact that there are highly effective treatments available.

2. Types of bacteria

What are bacteria and what are the main types? There are many different types of pathogenic bacteria. One way to classify them is according to their shape. There are three basic shapes:

• Spherical shape: Among the sphere-shaped bacteria is the streptococcus group, responsible for “strep throat”.
• Rod-shaped: These are known as bacilli (bacillus in the singular). Some rod-shaped bacteria are curved. These are known as vibrio. Examples of rod-shaped bacteria include Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) or anthrax.
• Spiral-shaped: If the spiral is very tight, this type of bacteria is known as spirochetes. Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and syphilis are caused by bacteria of this shape.

There are many variations within each group of shapes.

3. Main diseases caused by bacteria

First, it is necessary to establish the difference between the two types of bacterial diseases, more precisely between a bacterial infection and a viral infection.

Bacterial infections are caused by living single-celled organisms that can reproduce on their own. Only a few types of bacteria cause disease in humans.

An organism that is not made up of cells causes viral infections. Viruses always need to infect humans or other living beings to create more copies of themselves.

Antibiotics can treat most bacterial infections, but only a few viral infections have medications that treat them.

4. What are the types of bacterial infections?

Bacteria can cause several types of infections, depending on how a person is exposed and which part of the body they infect. Some of the most common types of bacterial infections include:

• Campylobacter and Salmonella infections, common types of food poisoning.
• Boils and impetigo, skin infections.
• Pneumococcal disease, including ear and sinus infections and some types of pneumonia.
• Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease.
• Bacterial vaginosis, an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea, sexually transmitted infections.
• Strep throat, a common bacterial infection in children that causes a sore throat.
• C. diff, a bacterial infection with symptoms in the intestines.
• E. coli, a common cause of urinary tract infection.

There are many bacterial infections that are usually not serious or can be easily treated with antibiotics. Impetigo and boils are just a few examples. However, any bacterial infection that penetrates deep into the body, such as into the blood, heart, lungs, or brain, can be life-threatening.

5. How do bacterial infections spread?

Bacterial infections can spread through droplets of human fluids or airborne dust, through direct or indirect contact, through a vector (such as a tick or mosquito), or through contaminated food or water (vehicle-borne).

• Airborne or droplet transmission: You can contract bacterial infections through the air, from contaminated dust or water droplets or mucus. Legionnaires' disease, pertussis (whooping cough), tuberculosis, meningococcal disease, and strep throat are spread in this way.

• Direct contact with infected skin: You can contract bacterial infections through direct contact with infected skin or mucous membranes or through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. Bacterial diseases transmitted through contact include skin infections and some sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

• Insect-borne infections: Infections you get from insects (such as mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas) are called vector-borne infections. You can contract Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and shigellosis through vectors.

• Contaminated food: You can contract intestinal (gastrointestinal) infections from E. coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella bacteria in contaminated food or water.

6. What are the common symptoms of a bacterial infection?

The symptoms of bacterial infections vary depending on the infected site in the body. The main symptom is often fever, except for skin infections, which usually cause redness or pain on the skin. Common symptoms of bacterial infections include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Headaches

A bacterial infection with severe symptoms is always a cause for concern.

Additional symptoms may include:

• Skin: Redness, blisters, ulcers, swollen or painful skin.
• Gastrointestinal tract: Diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Lungs: Cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and phlegm (sputum).
• Lining around the brain (meningitis): Stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, light sensitivity, and confusion.
• In the bloodstream and spreading (septicemia): High fever, weakness, sweating, and low blood pressure.
• In the heart (endocarditis): High fever, chest pain, night sweats, difficulty breathing, cough, muscle and joint pain.
• Urinary tract or genitals: Burning or pain when peeing, genital discharge, increased urge to urinate, and painful sexual intercourse.

7. Ways to prevent bacterial infections

• Rigorous hygiene: the main way to prevent most types of bacterial diseases. The first priority in eliminating the risk of contracting germs is through good personal hygiene habits. It is more important to prevent an infection than to treat it.
• Wash your hands thoroughly. Most people wash their hands after going to the bathroom, before preparing or eating food. You should also wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; after feeding or petting your pet; or after visiting or caring for a sick person. Hand hygiene is always done using water and soap, and if necessary, a skin disinfectant solution.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, then throw it away. In the absence of a tissue, it is best to sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands.
• Do not share dishes, glasses, or eating utensils.
• Avoid direct contact with tissues, handkerchiefs, or other similar objects used by others.

Although most cases of food poisoning are not dangerous, some can lead to serious medical conditions, including kidney failure and meningitis. You can prevent infections with foodborne pathogens in your household by preparing and storing food safely.

The following precautions will help you eliminate microbes that are present in food and will help you avoid introducing new microbes into the food you prepare at home.

• Rinse meat, fruits, and vegetables under running water before cooking or serving them.
• Wash your hands with water and soap before and after handling raw meat.
• Separate raw food from cooked food.
• Do not use the same utensils for cooked meat that were used to prepare raw meat without washing them between uses.
• Cook food thoroughly, using a meat thermometer to ensure that whole poultry is cooked to 180°, steaks and roasts to 145°, and ground meat to 160°.
• Thaw food only in the refrigerator or microwave.

Vaccination as a method of preventing infections

Many serious infections can be prevented through immunization. Although vaccines can cause some common side effects, such as temporary arm soreness or a low-grade fever, they are generally safe and effective.

Consult a doctor to determine your vaccination needs, especially when traveling to regions known for different types of infections. In general:

• Children should receive the vaccinations recommended by pediatricians.
• Adults should ensure that their vaccinations are up to date.
• When traveling abroad, consult your healthcare provider about additional immunizations.
• Make sure that pets are also properly immunized.

Conclusion

There are thousands of different types of bacteria. Most types of bacteria are not harmful; many are actually helpful. They make up the microbiome, which helps keep us healthy. Other bacteria, called pathogens, can cause infections that require treatment. Healthcare providers can prescribe antibiotics to treat many of these infections. Hand hygiene and attention to risk factors are essential elements in preventing bacterial infections.

Sources:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24189-bacterial-infection

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/196271#types

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7149789/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-prevent-infections