Bacterial infections in humans result from the invasion of a pathogenic, or disease-causing, form of bacteria. Typically picked up from the environment or other infected people, bacterial infections can cause problems ranging from mild to severe. Depending on what part of the body the infections occur in, treatment can be difficult.
Types
Many types of bacteria cause infection in humans. These bacteria, known collectively as pathogens, generally invade tissues, causing damage in the infected areas. Among the most common bacterial infections are gastrointestinal infections, which can be cause by a number of bacteria. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. all have a hand in causing infections of the GI tract. Bacteria related to respiratory infections include Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus spp.
Causes
Pathogenic bacteria involved in GI tract infections are often acquired by tainted food or drink. When the tainted food is digested, some cells may survive the harsh environment of the stomach and make it to the intestinal lining. Bacteria that cause respiratory infections are acquired by breathing air containing the pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria can exist in the environment naturally, but most often they infect a person breathing the same air as an already-ill individual.
Symptoms
Bacterial infections commonly cause extended high fever, dehydration, increased breathing and an overall worsening of health over a course of days.
Treatment
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections in various ways. Some antibiotics target cell wall production. Human cells don't contain cell walls, so this treatment is specific to foreign cells in the body. The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics at Tufts University notes that antibiotics also function by targeting bacteria-specific cellular processes. Many bacteria, however, have acquired immunity to commonly available antibiotics. For these resistant bacteria, special antibiotics have been developed that are not available to the general public. This helps reduce overuse and the risk of more bacteria developing immunity.
Avoidance
Living in a world shared with bacteria, it may not be possible to completely avoid infections caused by bacteria. To avoid infection, stay away from people known to have a bacterial respiratory infection, especially those coughing and sneezing. The mist from a sneeze or cough can carry pathogenic organisms from one person to another. Cook foods such as beef and chicken well before consuming them. Even if pathogenic bacteria exist in these foods, cooking them to a high enough temperature will kill the bacteria.
