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Bacterial Infection And Safety

Introduction:

Bacteria are unicellular organisms that can only be seen with the use of a microscope. A bacterial infection is a propagation of a dangerous bacteria strain within or on the body.  While some bacteria are harmful, the greater percentages of bacteria are helpful.  It is only one percent of bacteria that are harmful while the rest ninety-nine percent are useful.

A few bacteria assist in food digestion, destroy disease-causing cells, and provide the vitamin requirements of the body. Bacteria are as well utilized in the production of healthy foods like yogurt and cheese. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus, a safe bacterium that lives in the intestines assists in the digestion of food, helps to wipe out several disease-causing organisms and supply nutrients to the body. Good bacteria boost the body’s immune system and make it more difficult for the body to harbor bad bacteria and other disease-causing organisms

It is only comparatively few strains of bacteria that are capable of causing infections and making people sick. They reproduce rapidly and most of them discharge toxins which can cause damage to the body tissue. Examples of bacteria that cause infections are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Some bacteria can directly invade and damage tissues.

A number of infections caused by bacteria are:

•          Strep throat

•          Tuberculosis

•          Urinary tract infections

•          Pneumonia

•          Meningitis, food poisoning and many more

Bacteria can infect every part of the body.  Bacteria exist in three fundamental shapes: rod-shaped bacteria known as bacilli, spherical shaped bacteria known as cocci, or helical shaped bacteria known as spirilla.  Bacteria survive in every climate and place on earth. Some are airborne whereas others live in water or soil. Bacteria live on and inside plants, animals, and people.

Examples of bacterial infections

Pharyngitis

Bacterial infections in the throat are known as pharyngitis. This results in the swelling and infection of the pharynx, or the backside of the throat.

What you can do to minimize the possibility of getting throat infection are:

•          Wash your hands after being in a public place or after being close to someone who is suffering from a respiratory condition.

•          Clean your hands after blowing your own nose or taken care of a child with a runny nose and/or a sore throat.

•          Do not eat with the same plates or cutleries or drink with the same cup that has been used by anyone suffering from a sore throat or throat infection.

•          Wash the toys a toddler with pharyngitis uses for playing with hot soapy water, rinse well, and then dry carefully.

•          Immediately discard all used tissue paper

•          Don’t kiss or share eating dishes with an individual suffering from flu, cold, mononucleosis, or any bacterial infection.

•          Avoid smoking and stay away from every smoke sources.

•          Make use of a humidifier if the air in your home is dry.

•          Keep your neck warm with a scarf during cold seasons to eliminate the possibility of creating a breathing ground for bacteria.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that affects the lung. It can as well be caused by viruses or fungi. The pneumonia infection is usually severe and would result in death. A certain group of people faces a higher risk of developing pneumonia and must carefully engage in preventive measures.

Examples are:

•          Smokers

•          People who recently suffered from a respiratory infection like flu, cold, or laryngitis

•          People who have sickness that affects their ability to swallow like stroke, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease

•          People who have severe lung problems like cystic fibrosis, COPD, or bronchiectasis

•          Individuals who suffer from other severe health conditions like heart disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes

•          Individuals who of late had surgery or a physical trauma

•          Individuals who have weak immune system as a result of some health conditions or specific medications.

How to prevent the occurrence of pneumonia infection

Things you can do stay away from pneumonia infection include the following:

•          Get a flu injection annually

•          Get pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine if you are an adult at risk

•          Stop smoking cigarette products particularly cigarettes

•          Wash your hands after blowing your nose, using the restroom or caring for the sick or handling raw foods

•          Avoid touching your face and nose.

Aspiration pneumonia can happen if you gulp food or liquids through a wrong pipe. Try always to eat in an upright position and feed others when they are in an upright position. Look after your health given that pneumonia can be contacted after suffering from other respiratory infections.

Ear infection

The inner ear infection is most common in children. They are usually excruciating and can result in other health issues. You can prevent or minimize the occurrence of ear infection in your child if you do the following:

•          Do not smoke at home in the presence of children. Ear infections can easily be contacted by children that are exposed to the smoky environment.

•          Breastfeed your baby as an infant. Breastfeeding boosts the immune system of a child and minimizes the occurrence of ear infection.

•          Avoid feeding your child with a bottle while he or she is lying down. It can result in an ear infection.

•          Limit exposing your child to people who are sick. Wash your child’s hand always and keep it clean.

Swimmer’s ear or outer ear infection

The swimmer’s ear infection affects the outer ear canal. It is motivated by the leftover water in the outer ear. This produces a warm, moist environment that is conducive to the growth of bacteria. This condition is referred to as acute external otitis or otitis externa. 

Otitis media

Otitis media is the infection or inflammation of the middle ear. The infection can be caused by both bacteria and viruses. It is common for babies and small children.

How to stay safe from the risk of swimmer’s ear

•          Dry your ear after swimming and bathing.

•          Wipe your outer ear with a soft towel or cloth. Bend your head to one side and let the water drain out.

•          Wipe the ear canal with a hair dryer on the lowest setting and keeping it not less than one foot off the head.

•          Do not insert foreign objects in the ear like cotton swabs, paper clips, or hairpins.

•          Place cotton balls in your ears when you use irritating products like hair sprays and hair dyes.

Bacterial meningitis Infection

Bacterial meningitis is a chronic infection of the meninges, which is the lining of the brain. The research found that from 2003 to 2007, there were four thousand, one hundred instances of bacterial meningitis annually and these include five hundred instances of death every year. Antibiotic treatments boost the rates of survival, lowers the risk of meningitis mortality to less than fifteen percent. However, it can be prevented with a vaccine. The following steps will assist you to minimize the risk of bacterial meningitis:

•          Frequent wash of hands

•          Do not exchange drinks, eating utensils, lip balms, or toothbrushes with another person

•          Boost your immune system by sleeping between seven to eight hours every day. Drink not less than sixty ounces of water daily. Get thirty minutes of exercise daily with a multivitamin and eat a balanced diet.

•          Get bacterial meningitis vaccines

Some forms of bacterial meningitis can be prevented with vaccines.

Bacterial meningitis is an airborne disease. It is therefore essential to stay far from individuals suffering from bacterial meningitis and to put on a face mask.

Respiratory tract infections

Examples of respiratory tract infections are a sore throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia. Respiratory tract infections can be caused by either bacteria or virus. Tuberculosis is a lower respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria.

Sepsis Bacteria infection

Septicemia or sepsis infection is a dangerous infection of the blood caused by bacteria. When bacteria are growing in the blood, it can also infect other organs of the body like the kidneys, pancreas, liver, and spleen.

•          Various forms of infections can cause sepsis; infections of the skin, lungs, urinary tract, and tummy. It can as well be a primary blood infection.

•          People who are at higher risk of suffering from sepsis infection are people with a weak immune system, infants and children, the aged, individuals with severe illnesses like diabetes, cancer, liver disease or HIV/AIDS, and individuals who have suffered from serious physical trauma or serious burn.

•          Sepsis can as well be prevented by limiting your exposure to things that can cause other key bacterial infections, by boosting your immune system and managing any chronic medical condition that you are suffering from.

Skin bacterial infections

Skin bacterial infections are commonly caused by gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus or other pathogens. The most widespread bacterial skin infections are:

•          Cellulitis which results in a painful, red infection that is normally warm when touched. Cellulitis frequently affects the legs, but it can affect any part of the body.

•          Folliculitis is a bacterial infection that affects the hair follicles. It results in red, swollen bumps that appear like pimples. Swimming pools or bathtubs that are not sufficiently treated can contain bacteria that result in folliculitis.

•          Impetigo results in causes discharging sores. It is common with preschool-aged children. The bullous type of impetigo results in large blisters whereas the non-bullous type comes with a yellow, crusted look.

•          Boils are deep skin infections that emanate from the hair follicles. Boils are firm, red, tender bumps that develop until pus gathers under the skin.

Bacterial skin infections can be treated with oral or topical antibiotics depending on the strain that causes the infection.

Foodborne bacteria infection

Bacterial infections are one key cause of foodborne sicknesses. The symptoms of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and abdominal pain. Raw meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and unpasteurized dairy may contain unsafe bacteria that can cause sickness. Contaminated food, poor food preparation, and improper handling can as well boost the growth of bacteria.

Examples of foodborne bacteria infection

•          Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is a diarrheal sickness frequently followed by cramps and fever.

•          Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) is a bacterium that causes serious injuring of one’s health through the potent neurotoxins it produces.

•          Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157: H7 is a diarrheal (frequently bloody) illness that may be followed by nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps.

•          Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) results in fever, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Pregnant women, the aged, infants, and those with weakened immune systems are mostly affected by this infection.

•          Salmonella or typhoid fever comes with fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms basically last from four to seven days.

•          Vibrio results in diarrhea when swallowed but it can as well result in acute skin infections if it touches an open wound.

Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infections

A lot of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by harmful bacteria. Every so often, these infections don’t come with any visible symptoms but can nevertheless cause serious harm to the reproductive system.

Common bacteria STDs include the following:

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is as well referred to as "clap" and "the drip." It is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Men and women can contact the infection. Gonorrhea as well boosts the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women.

Characteristics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection

•          Gonococcal infections are second to most serious bacteria sexually transmitted diseases. (STDs)

•          Gonococcal infections do not show any visible symptoms in roughly fifty percent of patients.

•          Pregnancy is a factor that influences the development of disseminated gonococcal infection, which typically manifests as an arthritis-dermatitis syndrome.

•          Newborns that contracted gonorrhea during delivery through the vagina can develop severe conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), sepsis, arthritis, and/or meningitis.

To avoid this the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists propose that screening be conducted through the endocervical culture in women who are at higher risk of suffering from gonorrhea high-risk pregnant women on their first antenatal visit

The CDC recommends that all women who are at risk of suffering from the disease condition be screened and be rescreened when they are in their third trimester. The best screening method is the endocervical culture followed by the NAAT and the nucleic acid hybridization test. The three tests can all be used concurrently for diagnosis. The preferred treatment method is through the use of one-dose IM ceftriaxone and oral azithromycin.

Syphilis

Syphilis infection affects both men and women. It is commonly caused by a bacteria referred to as Treponema pallidum. If syphilis is not treated, it can result in a more dangerous health condition and even result in death.

If primary or secondary syphilis is not treated in pregnant women, it can result in roughly hundred percent of fetal infection rate. The disease can result in stillbirth; late miscarriage; neonatal illness, death, or dormant infection. Primary syphilis usually comes with symptoms like hard, painless red ulcer on the vulva, cervix, or vagina. Secondary syphilis commonly comes with symptoms like a nonpruritic skin rash that can as well occur on the palms and soles. It is not frequently known with symptoms like fever, lymphadenopathy, and joint pain.

The dormant stage of the infection results in no symptoms but it can still be transmitted to a child in the womb. Tertiary syphilis can result in cardiovascular or gummatous disease. Neurosyphilis can happen at any phase and result to CNS or ophthalmic presentations.

Nontreponemal antibody test like RPR, VDRL usually used to detect the occurrence of syphilis but these always show positive in pregnant woman and must be confirmed with specific anti-treponemal antibody tests like the microhemagglutination assay– T pallidum (MHA-TP) and the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS)

An individual who has syphilis, usually have other sexually transmitted infection particularly HIV is diagnosed, consider other sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV.

It is treated with a single dose of 2.4 million units of IM benzathine penicillin when it is in the primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis, but some experts suggest a second dose of benzathine penicillin G a week after the first dose, particularly for a pregnant woman especially in the third trimester or in patients with secondary syphilis.

Treatment in the late latent stage is with three doses of benzathine penicillin. Each treatment should be given one week apart.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia infections affect men and women and are caused by an organism known as Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia boosts the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most widespread sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the US. It is progressively the main cause of complications in pregnancy and the spread of disease in infants.

Roughly seventy-five women who have C trachomatis infection are asymptomatic.C trachomatis can result to endometritis, cervicitis, acute PID, and acute urethral syndrome in all women and chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, and gestational bleeding in pregnant women. The infection is usually transmitted to fetus vertically during the second stage of labor. In neonates, C trachomatis infection frequently results in conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) and pneumonia.

The recommended screening methods by CDC are:

•          A nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) carried out on urine or an endocervical swab specimen.

•          An unamplified nucleic acid hybridization test, an enzyme immunoassay, or direct fluorescent antibody test carried on an endocervical swab specimen.

•          Culture carried out on an endocervical swab specimen.

Treatment of Chlamydia

The treatment is done with the following: Azithromycin is the first recommended treatment. Amoxicillin can be used as an alternative. Erythromycin is used as a second-line agent because of compliance-limiting GI adverse conditions. Tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones are contraindicated in pregnant women. Women who are treated should be rescreened after three weeks to ensure therapeutic cure.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects the bladder, urethra, kidneys, or ureters. Asymptomatic bacteriuria affects ten to pregnant women and can result in complications like pyelonephritis and premature labor. Therefore, all pregnant women must undergo screening with urine culture at least once daily during early pregnancy and must be treated if they have a positive result.  Significant bacteriuria is defined as >100,000 colony-forming units (CFU) of a unicellular organism in a clean-catch specimen.

The treatment that should be given is:

Initial antibiotic therapy after which tailoring is done to the pathogen that developed in the urine. Sulfonamides, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalexin, and nitrofurantoin are recommended and sulfonamides in the last few weeks of gestation may result in kernicterus and hyperbilirubinemia for the new born child. Trimethoprim is moderately contraindicated during the first trimester as a result of theoretical teratogenicity.

Nitrofurantoin may result to hemolysis in patients or fetuses with G6PD deficiency. A 7-day regimen treats bacteriuria and acute cystitis; one-dose therapy is less effective. Recurrent UTIs may require postcoital prophylaxis with single-dose cephalexin or nitrofurantoin macrocrystal. The pregnant women usually need to avoid specific antibiotics. Apart from that, the treatment is same for both non-pregnant and pregnant patients.

Mild symptoms of the infection is treated in an outpatient setting, but more chronic conditions need hospitalization and IV antibiotics together with IV hydration for nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is a mild bacterial infection of the vagina. The vagina normally contains both the good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria regulate the growth of the bad bacteria. The balance between the good and bad bacteria is normally upset in women with bacterial vaginosis. There are insufficient good bacteria and very many bad bacteria. The CDC does not classify bacteria vaginosis as a sexually transmitted disease.

Bacterial vaginosis is commonly a mild health issue that may disappear on its own within a few days. But it can result in more serious issues. Thus, it is a great idea to see your doctor and get treatment.

The cause of bacterial vaginosis

It has not yet been known the reason why the bacteria in the vagina go out of balance. But few things that could cause it and expose one to the risk of suffering from the condition include:

Having more than one sex partner or a new sex partner and douching. You may likely not have bacterial vaginosis if you reduce your number of sex partners and avoid douching or smoking.

All through the history, millions of people have died of diseases like bubonic plague or the Black Death, which is caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria.

Bacterial infections can result in symptoms like coughing and sneezing, fever, inflammation, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and cramping. These are measures devised by the immune system to get rid of infectious organisms. Bacterial vaginosis is a clinical syndrome that requires immediate medical attention.

The key organisms that are linked to this condition are anaerobes and Gardnerella vaginalis. The etiology of the infection is naturally polymicrobial. The infection is asymptomatic. Women with the infection may as well suffer from an abnormal discharge from the vagina with fish-like, stinking odor mainly after having sex. The vaginal discharge is grey or white and may result in other symptoms like itching near the vagina or burning sensation while the person is urinating. It normally has Ph value of more than 4.5. The infection may result in premature labor unresponsive to tocolytic therapy. It can be transferred to the fetus through the placenta and can result in intrauterine fetal death.

Diagnosis Of Bacterial Vaginosis:

Bacterial infection is confirmed with the use of Gram strain or clinical criteria. When making use of the clinical criteria, three of the following four conditions must be present:

A consistent, white, non-inflammatory discharge that easily coats the vaginal wall Clue cells or vaginal epithelial cells with a speckled look as a result of collections of coccobacilli, vaginal fluid pH above 4.5, a positive whiff test result, a fishy odor of the vaginal discharge before or after addition of ten percent potassium hydroxide solution. It is recommended that the woman take oral metronidazole or clindamycin; clindamycin cream is not recommended when the woman is in the halfway stage of her pregnancy.

Treatment of bacterial vaginosis:

There are various opinions among experts about the treatment of bacterial infection. They are presented below:

A group of doctors recommends the use of topical creams and antibiotics while some doctors recommend either of the treatment. The effect of antibiotics is debated given that some reviews found that antibiotics are not effective for preventing premature birth. Nevertheless, it was found from the same review that antibiotics minimize the risk of pPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes) that occasionally result in preterm birth and infection.

To minimize the risk for to the fetus, oral antibiotics are mostly used together with clindamycin and metronidazole.

Group B Streptococcus

Group B Streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) is the most widespread cause of severe infections in newborns and can as well affect the mother. GBS can be present as part of normal vaginal, rectal, and oral flora. Intrapartum transfer often happens through ascending spread or at the time of delivery. In pregnant women, GBS causes cystitis, amnionitis, endometritis, and stillbirth; infrequently, GBS bacteremia results to endocarditis or meningitis. In postpartum women, GBS can result in urinary tract infections (UTIs) and pelvic abscesses.

In newborns, the early manifestation of the infection occurs when the baby is seven days with the average age of twelve hours after birth. It frequently manifests as nonfocal sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis.

Late-onset disease in neonates happens when the baby is seven to eighty-nine years old with an average age of thirty-six days and nonfocal bacteremia and meningitis are the most widespread symptoms. Babies who survive the early stage suffer from potential hearing or vision loss, learning disabilities, and other neurologic follow-ups.

The CDC thus recommends that at thirty-five to thirty-seven gestations, all pregnant women must go through screening with a vaginal and rectal swab for culture. The most precise site for culture is at the introitus, just inside the hymeneal ring and rectally beyond the sphincter. The cervical, perianal, perirectal, or perineal specimens are not recommended and speculum must not be used for collecting culture. If the culture result is positive, the woman must be treated if pregnant during labor.

Treatment of Group B Streptococcus

During labor and until the time of delivery, IV penicillin G or ampicillin should be given. For patients who are allergic to penicillin, sensitivities of the GBS isolate ought to be sent even though IV cefazolin is the best option for patients who are allergic to penicillin at low risk for anaphylaxis, in individuals at high risk for anaphylaxis, IV clindamycin or erythromycin is an acceptable option.

For patients who are not susceptible to clindamycin or erythromycin, treatment can be done with IV vancomycin. The neonate should be cautiously monitored to check if they have symptoms of the disease.

 

Listeriosis

Listeria monocytogenes frequently occur in pregnant women. Roughly, one-third of all reported cases of listeriosis happen during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Infection occurs when the person swallows a contaminated food. However, there are as well rare cases of direct contact with infected animals and nosocomial transfer. The most common clinical symptoms of listeriosis in pregnant women are bacteremia, frequently asymptomatic. The occurrences of CNS Listeria infections are rare in pregnant women unlike in the other populations. Pregnant women with the symptom as well have a febrile illness related to influenza with fever, muscle aches, and, irregularly, nausea or diarrhea during the bacteremic stage of the disease.

Even though maternal symptoms may be mild, listeriosis can result in amnionitis and lead to unstructured septic abortion, premature labor with delivery of an infected baby, or even stillbirth.  Fetal infection may result from septicemia, meningoencephalitis, or dispersed granulomatous lesions with microabscesses. A confirmation of listeriosis can be made through a culture that shows L monocytogenes in blood or CSF. Serologic testing is not consistent with the diagnosis, and stool cultures are not responsive or specific.

The treatment is carried out with IV ampicillin or penicillin. Patients who are allergic to beta-lactam allergy have to be desensitized. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the normal alternative for patients who are allergic to penicillin but can be difficult during the first or third trimesters for pregnant women.

Understanding certain characteristics of Bacterial Infections

Bacteria are adaptable

Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms that can adapt to very harsh conditions. Some bacteria have been discovered during the hot springs in Yellowstone National park where the water is closed to near boiling temperatures and as well deep inside the ice in Antarctica.

The spread of bacterial infections

Bacteria need specific certain nutrients to survive and reproduce. Some of them can hi hibernate till they have found a favorable condition. A number of bacteria attach to sugars and starches in the majorities of organic matter. This is why bacteria are frequently found in food. Bacteria will reproduce or duplicate themselves under the right conditions, thus, it is significant to inhibit these conditions if you can.

Bacteria can grow on biofilms on surfaces like toilets or sinks. All bacteria are not bad. A number of different types of bacteria live on the skin and in the gastrointestinal tract, and most of these bacteria assist your body to function.

When to seek help from your doctor

Bacterial infections can be risky and life-threatening. If you think that you have not taken appropriate measures to prevent infection, it is necessary you know when you’d need to seek help from your doctor.

You need to get in touch with your doctor if:

•          You are running temperature of above 101 for more than three days

•          Your symptoms do not go away without treatment after few days

•          You suffer from pain and discomfort that needs to be treated with pain medication

•          You have a cough that either does or does not generate sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs) that won’t go away for over one week

•          You have your eardrum ruptured and oozing pus

•          You have a headache and fever that are incapable to hold your head up

•          You have been vomiting excessively and can’t keep your fluid down

Obtain immediate medical help if you are suffering from more serious situations

Some health conditions may require immediate emergency medical care. You can get someone to take you to an emergency room or ring 911. You need immediate medical attention if you are experiencing inflammation, redness, fever, and pain; if you are experiencing weakness, sensory loss, a stiff neck, fever, nausea or sickness, weariness, and disorientation; have seizures or  have difficulty breathing or feel like you lack the strength to keep breathing.

How you can prevent the spread of Bacteria

Specific bacteria are transmitted via close contact with infected individuals. There are a lot of situations that boosts such contacts like:

•          Living or working with other individuals

•          Sharing things together

•          Caring for a sick person

•          Frequent use of lavatories in public places

There are specific things you can do to reduce the transmission bacteria. These include:

Getting Vaccinated

Vaccination is the most recommended way to protect yourself and others from bacterial infection. If there is any vaccine that is available for any disease, get the vaccine.

Practice good hygiene

•          Constantly wash your hands and keep it clean. Follow the recommended tips and techniques for proper hand washing.

•          Observe the recommended tips for coughing and sneezing to avoid contaminating the air

•          Limit your action of touching your nose, eyes, and mouth. They are commonly the access way of viruses and bacteria into the body

•          Try to avoid having contact with sick people given that they may be suffering from a contagious disease. Stay far from them and avoid touching things they have used; cooking utensils for example.

•          Constantly clean your surroundings together with the sanitary wares you use. For instance, clean your counters and other surfaces that you frequently touch with your hands. Try also to wash toilets and sinks to be able to keep them clean. Cleaning is essential for eliminating germs on hard surfaces.

•          Clean with soap and water or use domestic detergents

Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections

You ought to book an appointment to see your doctor if you think you have a bacterial infection. Exceptions are the common cold, which is commonly not life-threatening.

In a number of instances, it's not easy to determine the cause of an infection due to the fact that many sicknesses like pneumonia, meningitis, and diarrhea can be caused by both bacteria and viruses. However, a visit to the doctor will help to identify the cause of the problem by listening to your medical history and conducting a physical exam.

If required, the doctor can order a blood or urine test to assist confirm a diagnosis, or a "culture test" of tissue to recognize whether the cause is bacteria or viruses. In rare occasions, a biopsy of affected tissue may be needed.

Treatment of Bacterial Infections

The discovery of antibiotics for bacterial infections is taken as one of the most significant breakthroughs in medical history. Regrettably, bacteria are very adaptive in nature, and excessive use of antibiotics makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics. This has resulted in a number of severe health issues, particularly in hospitals.

Bacterial infections and Antibiotics

Antibiotics are the standard treatment. Bacteria may as well be grouped as gram-positive or gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick cell wall whereas gram-negative bacteria do not. Gram staining, bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity examination together with other tests are utilized in the identification of bacterial strains and assist to determine the suitable course of treatment.

Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections. They work by disrupting the processes necessary for bacterial cell growth and proliferation. It's important to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed and follow the directions carefully. Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them causing antibiotic resistance. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those antibiotics cannot cure. Failure to do so could make a bacterial infection worse. Secondary infections occur when someone is in a weakened or compromised state due to an existing illness.

Antibiotic Resistance

Excessive use and misuse of antibiotics have resulted in a rise in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria are no more sensitive to a drug that ought to get rid of the infection. Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are very risky and boost the person's risk of death.

Roughly, two million of people in the US suffer from antibiotic-resistant infection annually and twenty-three thousand people die out of the condition. The CDC estimate shows that fourteen thousand deaths are as a result of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections alone and that these happen due to the fact that antibiotic suppression of other bacteria permits C.difficile to reproduce. The majorities of death that happen as a result of antibiotic-resistant infections happen in the hospital among those hospitalized or among individuals in nursing homes.

Multiple questions and answers

1. The following are true of bacteria except one. Select the correct option:

A) Bacteria are unicellular organisms that can only be seen with the use of a microscope.

B) A bacterial infection is a propagation of a dangerous bacteria strain within or on the body. 

C) While some bacteria are harmful, the greater percentages of bacteria are helpful.  It is only one percent of bacteria that are harmful while the rest ninety-nine percent are useful.

D) Bacteria are bigger in size than a virus and can be seen with the naked eye, unlike a virus that can only be seen with the aid of a microscope.

Answer

The answer is D

2) The features of beneficial bacteria are the following except one option:

A) Useful bacteria help in food digestion, destroy disease-causing cells and provide the vitamin requirements of the body.

B) Bacteria are utilized in the production of healthy foods like yogurt and cheese.

C) Lactobacillus acidophilus in the intestines impedes the digestion of food, helps to wipe out several disease-causing organisms and supply nutrients to the body.

D) Good bacteria boost the body’s immune system and make it more difficult for the body to harbor bad bacteria and other disease-causing organisms

Answer

The answer is C

3. These are effects of harmful bacteria except

A) The numbers of bacteria strains that cause infections and make people sick are only very few.

B) They reproduce rapidly and most of them discharge toxins which can cause damage to the body tissue.

C) Examples of infectious bacteria are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.

D) Bacteria can’t directly invade and damage tissues.

Answer

The answer is D

4. Bacterial infections include the following:

A) Strep throat, tuberculosis

B) Urinary tract infections

C) All of the above

D) Pneumonia, meningitis and food poisoning

5. Bacteria can infect every part of the body. 

A) Bacteria exist in three fundamental shapes: rod-shaped bacteria known as bacilli, spherical shaped bacteria known as cocci, or helical shaped bacteria known as spirilla. 

B) Bacteria survive in both humid and very dry climate.

C) Bacterial infection is airborne while others live in water or but not on the soil.

D) Bacteria live on and inside plants, animals, and people.

Answer

The answer:

The answer is C

6. Bacterial infections in the throat are known as pharyngitis. This results in the swelling and infection of the pharynx, or the backside of the throat. What you can do to minimize the possibility of getting throat infection are:

A)    Wash your hands after being in a public place or after being close to someone who is suffering from a respiratory condition.

B)    Clean your hands after blowing your own nose or taken care of a child with a runny nose and/or a sore throat.

C)    Do not eat with the same plates or cutleries or drink with the same cup that has been used by anyone suffering from a sore throat or throat infection.

D)    Do not have anything to do with sick people, avoid them and stigmatize them

 

Answer

The answer is D

7. Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that affects the lung. The following are true of pneumonia infection:

A)    Pneumonia can only be caused by a bacterial pathogen

B)    The pneumonia infection is normally serious and would result in death.

C)    Some people are more at risk of suffering from pneumonia and must carefully engage in preventive measures

D)    Examples of preventive measures for pneumonia are: Get a flu injection annually and getting pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine if you are an adult at risk

 

Answer

The answer is A

 

8. The inner ear infection is commonly painful. You can prevent or minimize the occurrence of ear infection in your child if you do the following except:

A)    Do not smoke at home in the presence of children. Ear infections can easily be contacted by children that are exposed to the smoky environment.

B)    Breastfeed your baby as an infant. Breastfeeding boosts the immune system of a child and minimizes the occurrence of ear infection.

C)    The inner ear infection is common in both adult and children.

D)    Avoid feeding your child with a bottle while he or she is lying down. It can result in an ear infection.

Answer

The answer is C

 

9. Examples of respiratory tract infections are a sore throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia, the following are true of respiratory tract infection except one:

A)    Respiratory tract infections can be caused by either bacteria or virus.

B)    Tuberculosis is a lower respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria.

C)    Septicemia or sepsis infection is a dangerous respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria.

D)    When bacteria are growing in the blood, it can also infect other organs of the body like the kidneys, pancreas, liver, and spleen.

Answer

The answer is C

10) Skin bacterial infections are commonly caused by gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus or other pathogens. The most widespread bacterial skin infections are except:

A)    Cellulitis 

B)    Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum)

C)    Folliculitis

D)    Impetigo   and Boils

 

Answer

The answer is B

11. A lot of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by harmful bacteria. Common bacteria STDs include the following except:

A)    Azithromycin

B)    Gonorrhea

C)    Syphilis    

D)    Chlamydia

Answer

The answer is A

12. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects the bladder, urethra, kidneys, or ureters.  The following is true for treatment of UTIs in pregnant women except:

A)    Asymptomatic bacteriuria affects pregnant women and can result in complications like pyelonephritis and premature labor.

B)    All pregnant women must undergo screening with urine culture at least once daily during early pregnancy and must be treated if they have a positive result. 

C)    Initial antibiotic therapy is given after which tailoring is done to the pathogen that developed in the urine. Sulfonamides, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalexin, and nitrofurantoin are recommended medications

D)    Nitrofurantoin may result to hemolysis in patients or fetuses with G6PD deficiency.

 

Answer

The answer is A

 

References

 

·         Darvin Scott Smith, MD, MSc, DTM&H; Chief Editor: Carl V Smith, MD  more...; Bacterial Infections and Pregnancy Updated: Aug 25, 2016 

·         CDC: Antibiotics resistance threats in the US 201

·         STD Diagnosis, Images, Symptoms, Treatment, Reviewed By Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD on 8/7/2016

·         AFB Testing: American Association for Clinical Chemistry

·         Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2017. Stool Culture: The Test Sample; [updated 2016 Mar 31; cited 2017 Mar 4]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/stool-culture/tab/sample/

·         Bacterial Infections 101, Reviewed By Robert Cox, MD on 5/11/2016

• Preventing Transmission of Viruses and Bacteria, Gouvernement du Québec, 2017

·         CDC: Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013

·         CDC Features: Wash Your Hands;   National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases

·         Bacterial Meningitis, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

• Thigpen MC, Whitney CG, Messonnier NE, Zell ER, Lynfield R, Hadler JL, et al. Emerging Infections Programs Network. Bacterial meningitis in the United States, 1998-2007. N Engl J Med. 2011; 364:2016-25.
• What is sepsis: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
  Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
• American Lung Association: Preventing Pneumonia; Approved by Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel. Last reviewed October 6, 2016.

·         Pharyngitis: University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).

·         Maloney SR, Almarines D, Goolkasian P. Vitamin D levels and monospot tests in military personnel with acute pharyngitis: a retrospective chart review. PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e101180.

·         McElroy BH, Miller SP. Effectiveness of zinc gluconate glycine lozenges against the common cold in school-aged subjects: a retrospective chart review. Am J Ther. 2002;9(6):472-5.

·         Melchart D, Linde K, Fischer P, Kaesmayr J. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. [Review]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD000530.

·         Takkouche B, Regueira-Mendez C, Garcia-Closas R, Figueiras A, Gestal-Otero JJ. Intake of vitamin C and zinc and risk of common cold: a cohort study. Epidemiology. 2002;13(1):38-44.

·         Turner RB. Ineffectiveness of intranasal zinc gluconate for prevention of experimental rhinovirus colds. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33(11):1865-70.

·         Turner RB, Riker DK, Gangemi JD. Ineffectiveness of Echinacea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus colds. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2000;44:1708-9.

·         Van Brusselen D, Blieghe E, Schelstraete, et al. Streptococcal pharyngitis in children: to treat or not to treat? Eur J Pediatr. 2014;173(10):1275-83.

·         Van Straten M, Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a vitamin C supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2002;19(3):151-9.

 

 

 

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